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: 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. African tribes and kingdoms that were heavily involved in providing slaves included the Oyo, Igala, Kaabu, Asanteman, the Aro Confederacy and Imbangala war bands. The Kingdoms of Benin, Dahomey, the Manikongo, and of the Bambara and the Khasso were also heavily involved. The trade-goods used for the slave-trade tended to be inexpensive European manufactured items -- dinner-ware, pots, cloth, tools, firearms and ammunition, spirits, and food. Answer link