The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic slave trade was one part of a three-legged international trade network. This network was known as the triangular trade. It was a triangle-shaped route that went through the Atlantic, linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Brittan’s "little addictions", was their obsession with he use of slaves. Slaves were a big use of their life. Their labor was used for just about everything.
Brittan’s "little addictions", was their obsession with he use of slaves. Slaves were a big use of their life. Their labor was used for just about everything.
Triangluar Trade
Triangular trade is called this because the trade routes work in the shape of a triangle. First, merchant ships brought European goods such as guns, cloth, and cash to Africa. Then, these goods were traded for slaves. Second, the slaves were taken Americas where here, the slaves were trades for sugars, molasses, and other products. This second route is known as the Middle Passage. Finally, the merchants carried these products, to Europe where they traded for a profit for necessities that the merchants needed to go back to Africa and begin their triangular journey again. These trading routes impacted Europe because the merchants were coming here with products to trade. Many of the port cities prospered with the new goods coming in and improving the economy. The slave trade had devastating effects on the Africans. States, communities, and families were torn apart. Africans' lives were either ended or "brutalized".
The Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was the second “leg” of the triangular trade route. Although the conditions were fine for the merchants at this time they were repulsion to the slaves onboard. Many of the slaves died on board these ships due to the harsh conditions. Once onboard the ship, the Africans were packed below the decks in chains. Men, women, and children were packed tightly allowing little to no room to move making it unbearably uncomfortable. This lead to the rapid spread of disease. Africans died from smallpox and dysentery. On many ships half of the slaves onboard were all dead by the time they reached the Americas. Other Africans dies from mistreatment or suicide. Some would starve themselves, hang themselves, or jump overboard. Eventually, the slave ships were commonly known as “floating coffins”.
Nigerian Slave Ottobah Cugoano
When we arrived at the castle, I saw [my kidbapper] take a gun, a piece of cloth, and some lead [to trade] for me... when a vessel arrived to conduct us away to the ship, there was nothing to be heard but the rattling of chains, smacking of whips, and the groans and cries of our fellow-men...And when we found ourselves at last taken away, deathwas more preferable that life."
-Nigerian Slave Ottabah Cugoano, 1787
This is relevant to the impact the triangular trade had on Europe becoming powerful because this quote shows the process of becoming a slave.
-Nigerian Slave Ottabah Cugoano, 1787
This is relevant to the impact the triangular trade had on Europe becoming powerful because this quote shows the process of becoming a slave.