8.1.1

Beginnings of the Slave Trade

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Beginnings of the Slave Trade

The slave trade began in the 15th century. It dominated the world for centuries. Slaves were captured by slave traders and sold, or captured by local people before being sold to slave traders.

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Portugal and slavery

  • Portuguese traders began the slave trade in the 15th century.
  • The traders took slaves from West Africa to newly conquered colonies in the Americas.
Illustrative background for Britain and slaveryIllustrative background for Britain and slavery ?? "content

Britain and slavery

  • Britain conquered areas such as Barbados and Jamaica in the 15th century.
  • In 1672, the Royal African Company was established.
    • This was responsible for organising the trade between African slaves and plantation (an area of land where crops are grown) owners.
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The Treaty of Utrecht

  • After the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, British involvement in the slave trade increased.
    • The treaty allowed slaves to be sold by the British to the Spanish Empire.
    • Between 1640 and 1807, when the slave trade was officially abolished, 3.1 million slaves are estimated to have been traded through British colonies. Slaves were crammed onto ships in inhumane conditions and between 10% and 20% are thought to have died on the journey alone.
Illustrative background for The need for slaves in the AmericasIllustrative background for The need for slaves in the Americas ?? "content

The need for slaves in the Americas

  • In the South of the USA, the crops that were grown were very labour intensive (tobacco, sugar, and indigo).
  • Eventually, the supply of indentured servants was insufficient to meet the demand, and these workers only served for periods of three to seven years.
  • A more permanent labor supply was needed: African slaves.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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