In most cases, European traders did not capture slaves. West African nation states controlled the regions from which most slaves were abducted; thus Europeans had very limited access to people beyond the coast. As in Europe, African states were sometimes engaged in war, which produced captives, some of whom were kept in a form of indigenous African servitude. After the arrival of Europeans, tribal chieftains began to trade such captives of war, along with other goods. As the American plantation system grew into a highly lucrative enterprise, so did the demand for chattel slaves (human property). Gradually, Europeans became aggressive participants in the abduction of slaves and played a dominant role in organizing slave-raiding parties whose business it was to the capture other Africans in exchange for European goods--weapons, liquor, beads, cloth, etc. European traders then transported victims to the Americas as "merchandise," making a profit on human misery.
European slave traders did not have to capture slaves in West Africa themselves because they established trade relationships with local African leaders and groups who conducted the capture and sale of slaves. These local intermediaries would often raid neighboring communities or conduct warfare to acquire captives, whom they sold to European traders in exchange for goods such as textiles, firearms, and alcohol. This system allowed European traders to profit from the slave trade without directly engaging in the violent and complex processes of capture and transportation.
They needed slaves to work on plantations
buying them for African slave traders
West African slave traders primarily obtained slaves through a combination of warfare, kidnapping, and trade with local communities. They often conducted raids on rival tribes or villages to capture individuals, while some slaves were sold to traders by their own communities as a result of debt or punitive measures. Additionally, European traders established trade relationships and offered goods in exchange for enslaved individuals, creating a demand that fueled the transatlantic slave trade. This complex network of capture, trade, and economic incentives facilitated the acquisition of slaves in West Africa.
From slave traders in central Africa.
European slave traders did not have to capture slaves in West Africa themselves because they established trade relationships with local African leaders and groups who conducted the capture and sale of slaves. These local intermediaries would often raid neighboring communities or conduct warfare to acquire captives, whom they sold to European traders in exchange for goods such as textiles, firearms, and alcohol. This system allowed European traders to profit from the slave trade without directly engaging in the violent and complex processes of capture and transportation.
From slave traders in central Africa.
They needed slaves to work on plantations
They were purchased by African Slave Traders
establishing trade relationships with local tribal leaders to acquire slaves through raids, warfare, or through the capture and selling of prisoners of war.
They were purchased by African Slave Traders
buying them for African slave traders
European slave traders captured slaves in Africa during the transatlantic slave trade.
Slave traders traded goods such as guns, ammunition, textiles, beads, alcohol, and metalware in exchange for slaves in Africa. These goods were used to entice African leaders and traders to capture and sell slaves to European and American slave traders.
West African slave traders primarily obtained slaves through a combination of warfare, kidnapping, and trade with local communities. They often conducted raids on rival tribes or villages to capture individuals, while some slaves were sold to traders by their own communities as a result of debt or punitive measures. Additionally, European traders established trade relationships and offered goods in exchange for enslaved individuals, creating a demand that fueled the transatlantic slave trade. This complex network of capture, trade, and economic incentives facilitated the acquisition of slaves in West Africa.
From slave traders in central Africa.
From slave traders in central Africa.