Portugal has the infamous distinction of starting the European involvement in the global system of slavery. In 1441, a ship from Portugal landed on the west coast of Africa and captured twelve people as slaves and brought them back to Portugal. The Pope himself granted Portugal permission to import black slaves into Europe.
The European slave trade was different that any other type of slavery that existed prior. The opening of the new world resulted in a need for labor, especially on sugar plantations. People from Africa were more resistant to the diseases that were killing Native-Americans by the millions. Plus, the slaves looked different that those who were purchasing the slaves. This resulted in a more oppressive and cruel form of slavery justified on race.
A cash crop based economic system required a lot of labor. Sugar, and then tobacco and cotton, fueled the need for slaves. Eventually, the first slaves were brought to the English colonies in what would become the United States in 1619.
The European slave trade was different that any other type of slavery that existed prior. The opening of the new world resulted in a need for labor, especially on sugar plantations. People from Africa were more resistant to the diseases that were killing Native-Americans by the millions. Plus, the slaves looked different that those who were purchasing the slaves. This resulted in a more oppressive and cruel form of slavery justified on race.
A cash crop based economic system required a lot of labor. Sugar, and then tobacco and cotton, fueled the need for slaves. Eventually, the first slaves were brought to the English colonies in what would become the United States in 1619.
The Journey of a Slave
Becoming a slave in the trans-Atlantic system was a horrific and violent experience. African kingdoms on the coast supplied slaves to their European slave-trading partners in exchange for guns, alcohol and other manufactured goods. They send armies out into the interior of Africa to capture slaves from other tribal groups.
Slave drivers, send from the kingdoms on the west coast of Africa, captured people in raids or in traps. Some of these raiders were African. Some of them were Arabs. Due to the treacherous nature of Africa and the difficulty of getting to the interior, very rarely were Europeans involved in this task.
Sometimes, slaves had to walk hundred to thousands of miles to get to the coast. Long lines of slaves, chained together, snaked their way through the African countryside. Led by uncompromising slavers, the use of whips and punishments were common to keep the newly captured slaves in control. The heat was blistering. Many people succumbed to heat exhaustion. Many were left to die in the open if they grew too weak to continue.
The long line of slaves, chain together, was known as a "coffle." People were bound by the necks, whipped repeatedly. Their hands were shackled and the were forced to walk.
Many of these people had never seen the ocean before, and the great ships sitting out in the harbor confirmed the rumors that they heard: strange, light-skinned men were capturing them for food.
The European slave traders liked these rumors because people who were afraid were easier to control. Fear ruled the lives of these new slaves.
Before being placed onto ships, these people were separated from their family and friends. They were grouped with others who spoke different languages and and different customs. This was done to prevent people from communicating. Why do you think they didn't want people of the same language groups and culture to be together?
After being exchanged for manufactured goods from Europe, these people would be sent to the large boats waiting in the harbor. And the next phase of the journey began--the Middle Passage.