TED-ED: The Atlantic slave trade: What too few textbooks told you - Anthony Hazard

The Atlantic slave trade, spanning from the late 15th to the mid-19th century, forcibly transported over 10 million Africans to the Americas, profoundly impacting global economies and histories. Originating with Portuguese and Spanish colonization, the trade met labor demands for crops like sugar and cotton. African slavery, existing in various forms, was exploited by Europeans, leading to intense competition and societal changes in Africa. Slaves endured brutal conditions during transport, with many perishing. The trade's legacy includes demographic shifts in Africa, the collapse of African economies post-abolition, and the rise of racist ideologies justifying slavery, with lasting effects on descendants.

What was a primary reason for the start of the Atlantic slave trade?

• The need for labor-intensive crops in the Americas

• The spread of European diseases

• The discovery of gold in Africa

• The decline of European economies

How did African kings and merchants view the people they sold into slavery?

• As criminals, debtors, or prisoners of war

• As potential allies

• As future leaders

• As fellow Africans

What was one of the reasons African kingdoms engaged in the slave trade?

• To promote cultural exchange

• To strengthen their realms against enemies

• To establish new colonies

• To reduce their population

What was a common method used by captains to ensure their profits during the slave transport?

• Offering slaves a chance to buy their freedom

• Providing ample food and water

• Cutting off slaves' ears as proof of purchase

• Allowing slaves to roam freely on deck

What was a common misconception among inland Africans about Europeans during the slave trade?

• That Europeans were peaceful traders

• That Europeans were freeing slaves

• That Europeans were cannibals

• That Europeans were seeking alliances

What was a significant demographic effect of the Atlantic slave trade on Africa?

• A decrease in agricultural production

• An increase in the population of women

• A loss of tens of millions of able-bodied men

• A rise in the number of European settlers

What ideology developed as a result of the Atlantic slave trade?

• The belief in African superiority

• The concept of biological inferiority of Africans

• The idea of universal equality

• The notion of European inferiority