African Slaves

Definition

African slaves were individuals taken from sub-Saharan Africa between 15th to 19th centuries during Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade who were forced into slavery by European powers primarily in their colonies in Americas.

Related terms

Middle Passage: The part of trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships to be transported across Atlantic Ocean into slavery.

Triangular Trade: A multilateral system of trading during colonial times where countries would trade goods with each other across three ports or regions - typically involved trading slaves, crops and manufactured goods.

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Slavery was a major part of colonial economies.