While investigating the increased warfare in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, what do many historians argue is the key factor in increasing warfare at large?

Many historians argue that the key factor in increasing warfare in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries was the transatlantic slave trade.

While investigating the increased warfare in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, what do many historians argue is the key factor in increasing warfare at large?

Responses

dangerous environments along the Bight of Benin
dangerous environments along the Bight of Benin - no response given

wars of succession
wars of succession - no response given

varying local currencies, such as nzimbu shells
varying local currencies, such as nzimbu shells - no response given

the European firearms sale-enslavement cycle

The European firearms sale-enslavement cycle is often cited as the key factor in increasing warfare at large in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.

Many historians argue that the key factor in the increased warfare in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries was the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade. This era saw an intensification of European involvement in the region, as European powers sought to establish colonies and establish control over African resources. The demand for enslaved labor in the Americas, particularly for plantation agriculture, led to an increased demand for slaves from West Africa. This demand created incentives for African states and societies to engage in warfare to capture and enslave individuals who could be sold to European traders. Additionally, European involvement in Africa introduced firearms, which significantly altered the dynamics of warfare, making it more lethal and potentially leading to the escalation of conflicts.

To find the answer to your question, we will need to consult scholarly sources that discuss the history of warfare in West Africa during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. One reliable source for historical information is academic journals. In this case, we can search for articles that specifically discuss the factors that contributed to increased warfare in West Africa during that time period.

Here are the steps you can follow to find the answer:

1. Access an academic database: Some popular databases that provide access to scholarly articles include JSTOR, Academic Search Premier, and ProQuest. You can access these databases through your university library or by subscribing to them individually.

2. Formulate a search query: Construct a search query that includes relevant keywords such as "warfare," "West Africa," "sixteenth to eighteenth centuries," and "causes" or "factors." For example, your query could be: "Causes of increased warfare in West Africa during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries."

3. Refine search results: After conducting the search, you will likely see a list of articles related to your query. Read the titles, abstracts, and summaries of the articles to identify the most relevant ones. Look for articles that explicitly discuss the key factors contributing to increased warfare in West Africa during that time period.

4. Read the selected articles: Retrieve and read the full-text versions of the selected articles. Pay attention to the authors' arguments and the evidence they present. Note that some articles may provide different perspectives, so it is essential to consider multiple sources to form a well-rounded understanding.

5. Analyze the consensus: After reviewing multiple articles, you will likely notice recurring themes or arguments. Identify any recurrent ideas or patterns that relate to the key factor(s) that many historians argue contributed to increased warfare in West Africa during that time period.

By following these steps, you should be able to find reliable information on the key factor(s) that historians argue contributed to the increased warfare in West Africa between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.