The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Essay Example

The Europeans would transport manufactured commodities from Europe to Africa. These commodities included guns, metal items, cowrie shells, tobacco and clothes. Guns enhanced the expansion of empires and access of slaves from among Africans. European traders transported slaves to the Americas on ships across the Atlantic Ocean (Rawley and Stephen 35). Besides the initiatives that the Europeans took to get slaves, some Africans were more than willing to help in enslaving their fellow Africans. It was not hard for these Africans to do this because it was not their first time to deal with slaves.

Even before the coming of the Europeans, there were Africans who had their own slaves.Also, some Africans had dealt in the slave trade with Islamic Arab merchants in North Africa from as early as 900. African traders would capture slaves, and transport them to seaports that were convenient for European traders (Lovejoy 23). If there were no people eligible for enslavement in their local communities, African traders would raid other communities. The Europeans then transported the slaves back to their homeland to work in their plantations.

These activities are what made up the stages that made the Trans-Atlantic trade triangular. Notable occurrences marked the middle passage. The middle passage refers to the transport of slaves from Africa to America. It took the Europeans up to three months to get the slaves to the Americas. Slaves experienced many challenges all the way through the middle passage.. Besides the initiatives that the Europeans took to get slaves, some Africans were more than willing to help in enslaving their fellow Africans.

It was not hard for these Africans to do this because it was not their first time to deal with slaves. Even before the coming of the Europeans, there were Africans who had their own slaves. Also, some Africans had dealt in the slave trade with Islamic Arab merchants in North Africa from as early as 900. African traders would capture slaves, and transport them to seaports that were convenient for European traders (Lovejoy 23). If there were no people eligible for enslavement in their local communities, African traders would raid other communities.

The Europeans then transported the slaves back to their homeland to work in their plantations. These activities are what made up the stages that made the Trans-Atlantic trade triangular. Notable occurrences marked the middle passage. The middle passage refers to the transport of slaves from Africa to America. It took the Europeans up to three months to get the slaves to the Americas. Slaves experienced many challenges all the way through the middle passage. These challenges started with the slave ships carrying more slaves than their capacity could allow.

Slaves were, therefore, congested in ships and had no choice but to live through immense fatigue and risk of contagious diseases. Many succumbed to diseases such as small pox and dysentery, and some captains would throw sick slaves into the ocean. Slaves endured the solar heat and the heat that came from their congestion. They put up with whipping, torture and abuse by the shipping crew. At some point, the slaves joined in resisting and revolting against mistreatment