The European Slave Trade started with relations with Africa. Many of the slaves the Europeans entrapped were from conquered areas, and defeated armies. The Portuguese took native of the Islamic civilizations and traders of the North Africa and forced them into Europe. The Portuguese did not think this was enough, so they pushed farther down the western coast of Africa. While on this quest, they found a village of black Africans. They attacked them and caught as many of them as they could to sell for money. This was the beginning of what would be come one of the most profitable industries.
The Portuguese were importing thousands of Africans into Portugal to be servants by 1854. Portugal was responsible for over 4.5 million slaves being transported during the slave trade period. Each slave had a period to work as an indentured servant; after his or her time was served he or she was free. Most of the Africans captured by the Portuguese were baptized, and sometimes educated to be put into the Portuguese lower society. The Portugal slave trade was banned in 1836. |
