What are some of the negative and positive effects of the slave trade on Africa and its people?
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calendarEducator since 2017
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You would be hard pressed to find any positive outcomes concerning the slave trade in Africa. The western portion of the continent was ravaged by Europeans eager to find a labor force that would assist them in acquiring more wealth and resources. The effects were far-reaching and devastating.
The male population of Africa was hit the hardest. Statistics claim that two-thirds of the slaves brought to the New World were male. This forced removal of such a large number of males created a demographic disaster. The population of Africa would remain stagnant until the 1800s as a result of this forced migration.
Without the expected growth and advance of civilization, the African continent was devoid of progress in areas such as technology and medicine throughout the slave era. Many cultural traditions and norms were no longer sustainable and the continent fell into a period of stagnation, if not outright regression.
Slavery was big business for Europeans and Africans alike. It is estimated as...
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starTop subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences