How did the discovery of new trade routes affect the slave trade?

The discovery of new trade routes significantly expanded the slave trade, particularly across the Atlantic.

The discovery of new trade routes, particularly those across the Atlantic, had a profound impact on the slave trade. The most significant of these was the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which was facilitated by the so-called 'Triangular Trade' route. This route connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and allowed for the mass transportation of enslaved Africans to the New World.

The establishment of these new trade routes was driven by European exploration and colonisation during the 15th to 19th centuries. As European powers established colonies in the Americas, there was a growing demand for labour to work in the plantations, mines, and households. This demand was initially met by the indigenous populations, but as these populations dwindled due to disease and harsh working conditions, the colonisers turned to Africa for a new source of labour.

The new trade routes allowed for the efficient transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. Ships would leave Europe loaded with goods, which they would trade in Africa for slaves. These slaves would then be transported across the Atlantic to the Americas, where they would be sold. The ships would then return to Europe loaded with goods produced in the Americas, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton.

The discovery of these new trade routes also led to the development of the 'Middle Passage', the leg of the journey where enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic. Conditions on these voyages were horrific, with slaves packed tightly into the holds of ships, leading to high mortality rates.

The impact of these new trade routes on the slave trade was significant. It is estimated that between the 15th and 19th centuries, around 12 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic as part of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This mass transportation of enslaved Africans had profound social, economic, and political impacts, both in Africa and in the Americas.