OPPapers.com

Slave Trade

The Slave Trade 1500-1700s 1 RUNNIG HEAD: The Slave Trade 1500-1700s The Slave Trade 1500-1700s: The Effects of the Slave Trade The Slave Trade 1500-1700s 2 With all the good that the Europeans and Spanish countries gain during the slave trade, there was an ugly side to it that affectedboth sides. It caused a huge depopulation of many African states. King Afonso I protested the slave trade within his kingdom because of this reason. He wrote letters to the kings of Portugal stating his dislikes of how the trades were affectinghis people. Conditions that slaves were put in from the time they were captured, through the “dreadful “middle passage,” (pg.708, Bentley, Ziegler.), to the end of the deadly trip across the Atlantic to the The Slave Trade 1500-1700s 3 plantations caused many slaves to revolt. Villages were raided by European soldiers takingwith them mostly men and boys because they were the ones who would be worth more to the plantation owners because of their physical strength. This left family members who would never see their kin again. After they were caught, they were put on ships and packed like sardine on the bottom of these large vessels. “Conditionswere so bad that many slaves attempted to starve themselves to death or mounted revolts.” (pg.708, Bentley,Ziegler.) Because of the cramped and un-human like conditions many died from diseases before they could reach they’re destination. On the plantations the conditions were not much better. Basically, the slaves work to live and did not see any benefits from the fruits of their labor. This caused more revolts against they’re owners who were mostly white Europeans. Some slaves, while on the plantation revolted by sabotaging owner’sequipment and others were beaten so badly by the plantation owners they would run away. The Slave Trade effected many lives and change the direction on which the new colonies would have to take to becoming join unions in future times that would be ahead of them. As...