Economically, slave trade lost many potential labor necessary for the economic development in Africa. Consequently, slave trade immensely affected the development of African economy and “retarded African commodity production. Additionally, although previously wars had produced tribute from the vanquished and captives to work for the victors, the surplus of captives reduced the incentives to keep the captives. Instead, they were sold for goods which were worth a fraction of what those people might have produced within their own lifetime. Finally, as those being sold were young, aged 14-35, and most productive labor for the continent, the slave trade had seriously impacted on the development of Africa during the 17th and 18th century. [1] Socially …show more content…
Also, the increase of female slaves influenced the status of free peasants. Thus, social equality in slave societies did not exit. Those in the slave trade business accumulated wealth and power at others’ expense with the help of witchcraft or sorcery. These privileged Africans jointed the Lemba society to protect their own interests and controlled the trading business and performed other functions such as adjudicating disputes. Other wealthy and powerful salve traders also organized similar business organizations to gain control over “the behavior and liberty of their dependents, whom they exploited and protected.” [2] Finally, slave trade had a deep impact on the origin of racism. Hundreds of years ago, Africans were viewed by Europeans almost exclusively as slaves who they believed were born as slaves. It was their duty to rescue these slaves from a primitive and barbaric existence. Consequently, the Europeans used the arguments to justify their actions in the name of spreading Christianity and civilization. …show more content…
The slave trade did not actually change any political system in Africa because the trade was operated by citizens of important states that exploited stateless peoples. As such, the states involving in the trade combined their political and commercial power to gain the most benefits out of the slave trade. Furthermore, states well-equipped used military power conquered the weak states to capture more captives for more profits. [4] For example, the slave trade with the Ngola of Ndongo strengthened the power of the Ngola in the 16th century, from which the Ngola built up his army and expanded his territories by conquest to produce more captives for sale. The kingdom was later defeated by the Portuguese, which triggered the endemic warfare of the interior to increase the supply of captives to the coast. In How Europe Underdeveloped Africa published in 1972, the Guyanese historian Walter Rodney argued that Africa’s chronic poverty and underdevelopment at the time of political independence in the mid-20th century was a direct result of European action. He also argued that the European slave trade out of Africa so weakened the continent that it left it open to Europe’s mega-exploitation through colonization in the 19th century and neo-colonialism. [5] Because of the internal warfare intended for more commercial profits from slave trade, three nations, including Greater Jolof, Kongo Kingdom and Oyo