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HISTODEX

Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

c. 1500–c. 1800

European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

A historical reconstruction of One historical scene at West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas, showing the setting of Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Reconstruction note: This educational reconstruction is not a primary-source image of the event.
Period
c. 1500–c. 1800
Kind
Movement
Regions
Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America
Keywords
Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade · West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas · early-modern · background · turning point · impact

Follow the story · Four stages

  1. Background

    Political, social, and commercial changes around West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas formed the setting: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

    • In and around West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas, the setting took shape as European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.
    • Core event: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.
    • Connection to the next stage: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities. The change unfolded through decisions by rulers, institutions, and local communities.
    Historical reconstruction of Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade's background: In and around West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas, the setting took shape as European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

  2. Course

    European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities. The choices of the participating powers and responses of local communities shaped the course.

    • European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.
    • The change unfolded through decisions by rulers, institutions, and local communities.
    • Conditions behind the action: In and around West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas, the setting took shape as European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.
    Historical reconstruction of Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade's central action: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

  3. Outcome

    As a result, It was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the Atlantic.

    • It was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the Atlantic.
    • Process producing the result: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities. The change unfolded through decisions by rulers, institutions, and local communities.
    • Question carried forward: In the longer term, it was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the atlantic.
    Historical reconstruction of Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade's immediate aftermath: It was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the Atlantic.

  4. Historical significance

    The significance of this event lies in the fact that it was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the atlantic.

    • In the longer term, it was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the atlantic.
    • Immediate consequence: It was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the Atlantic.
    • Historical turning point: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.
    Historical reconstruction of Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade's long-term consequences: In the longer term, it was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the atlantic.

Related events

  1. c. 1500

    Earlier conditions

    Historical reconstruction of the “Earlier conditions” stage in Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Earlier conditions — Background: In and around West Africa, the Atlantic, and the Americas, the setting took shape as European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

  2. c. 1500

    Forces in motion

    Historical reconstruction of the “Forces in motion” stage in Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Forces in motion — Build-up: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities. The change unfolded through decisions by rulers, institutions, and local communities.

  3. c. 1500–c. 1800

    Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Current event

    Historical reconstruction of the “Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade” stage in Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade — Central transition: European colonial economies expanded the forced migration of Africans and tied it to plantation production of sugar and other commodities.

  4. c. 1800

    Immediate aftermath

    Historical reconstruction of the “Immediate aftermath” stage in Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Immediate aftermath — Immediate result: It was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the Atlantic.

  5. c. 1800

    Enduring consequences

    Historical reconstruction of the “Enduring consequences” stage in Expansion of the Atlantic Slave Trade

    Enduring consequences — Long-term significance: In the longer term, it was a central and violent process shaping populations, wealth, empires, resistance, and modern racial systems around the atlantic.

Sources