Question

Four to five paragraph with proper sources and citation.

How did slave systems differ in the east and west? Use examples from the Atlantic World and the Gunpowder Empires. Further, how did the slave trade impact African kingdoms? Choose one to elaborate on.

Answer 1

The history of slavery spans many cultures, nationalities, and religions from ancient times to the present day. However the social, economic, and legal positions of slaves have differed vastly in different systems of slavery in different times and places.

The Dutch,French, Spanish, Portuguese, British, Arabs and a number of West African kingdoms played a prominent role in the Atlantic slave trade, especially after 1600. The fact remained that at the beginning of the nineteenth century an estimated three-quarters of all people alive were trapped in bondage against their will either in some form of slavery or serfdom. Although slavery is no longer legal anywhere in the world, human trafficking remains an international problem and an estimated 25-40 million people were enslaved as of 2013, the majority in Asia.

Many civilizations enslaved enemies captured in war. This is different than the Atlantic slave trade.
Some tribal societies set slavery as the condition for an outsider to join the tribe. This is similar to the modern fairy tale about the poor orphan who lives as a virtual slave with her stepfamily.
Some ancient societies, like Rome, had slavery but did not relegate any particular ethnic group into slavery. The laws and social mores did not permit slaveowners to abuse or torture their slaves. Slavery was part of their economic class system. Ironically, slaves could also own property including other slaves, become wealthy, and hold public office.

The Atlantic slave traders viewed Africans as animals. Laws concerning slavery were property laws. Slaves had no rights. They did not own their own bodies, and so were subject to torture, mutilation, and murder.

Impact Slave Trade:

The use of African slave labour was not new. The Spanish and Portuguese had been using African slaves since the 16th century. However, the Atlantic slave trade of the 18th century was a new kind of slavery and was on a scale much greater than ever before.

The implications of the slave trade included:

• Effects of the trade on African societies in West Africa
• The slave sellers and European ‘factories’ on the West African coast
• The development of slave-based states and economies
• The destruction of societies
• The development of foreign colonies
• Leaders of African societies took roles in continuing the trade.   

It has been estimated that over 12 million Africans were forcibly removed from Africa and transported across the Atlantic to the Caribbean islands and the American continent. The size of the Atlantic slave trade dramatically transformed African societies.The slave trade brought about a negative impact on African societies and led to the long-term impoverishment of West Africa. This intensified effects that were already present amongst its rulers, kinships, kingdoms and in society.