Title: How were the West African kingdoms involved in the slave trade? | Socratic
Headings: How were the West African kingdoms involved in the slave trade?
How were the West African kingdoms involved in the slave trade?
1 Answer
John C. Thompson
Explanation:

Content: "Sailor, beware the Bight of Benin, for there are few who come out though many go in." -- Traditional, Sailors Rhyme. The Trans-Atlantic Slave trade began with the first Portuguese shipment of slaves to the New World in 1503 and was repressed after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. During that time, the European presence on the West African coast was severely limited, largely by the disease environment. Moreover, until the late 19th Century, military expeditions into the African interior were easily avoided or defeated. While European raiding for slaves could occur, this was rare and hazardous for the raiders. The Atlantic Slave Trade depended on local African leaders to provide captives (or their own people), in exchange for trade-goods. During the centuries in which the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade continued, there were over 100 cities/towns/kingdoms or tribes involved in selling slaves for export. The slaves were war-captives, criminals, or often just other members of clans and families different from their ruler. The Dahomey used to kill large numbers of their own people every year, until they realized it was more profitable to sell them.