From the early 1400’s Portugal and other European countries were looking for a way to go around paying high Muslim prices for goods from the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Prince Henry the Navigator designed a plan to go around Africa, instead of through it, to get directly to the market. By the end of the 15th century Portugal had made it around the southern tip of the continent, up the East African coast and on to India, but not within any African contact. As they sailed down Africa, hugged her coast, the Portuguese baptized certain areas, forcing Africans to recognize their authority. Although European influence remained along much of the East African coast they could not gain political control, which still belonged to the Arabs and Africans. This contact with Africa led to the Atlantic Ocean Slave Trade.

Portugal did not set out to start the Trans-Atlantic slave trade but with the discovery of the New World an

Although Portugal was the first to dominate the trade they were challenged by the Dutch in the 17th century, followed by the Britain and France in the 18th century. Towards the end of the 18th century British ships took over half of the trade. By the 19th century European settlers in America, mainly the United States since the time of its independence began to play a key role.

d evolution of the plantation system there was a need for labor. The Portuguese had already started sugar plantations on offshore islands where they used African labor and took them back to England so, even before the settlement of the Americas, Europe witnessed the development of black slavery.

There were many anti-slavery movements but the one that had the most impact was the decision of Lord Mansfield in 1772 to end the slave trade. This was the beginning to see an end to the trade. Although the trade was no longer acceptable slavery was still very much in use. There was no more need for Africans in the new world. They wanted to keep them i

Some topics in this essay:
Portuguese Europeans, African European, Britain France, Trade Portugal, Lord Mansfield, Americas Europe, India African, Henry Navigator, Europeans Africa, East African, slave trade, trans-atlantic slave trade, european settlers, african cake, offshore islands, 18th century, 15th century, african merchants, east african, trans-atlantic slave, african coast, east african coast,