What economic basis did the slave trade have on African states. I know that the wealthier inhabitants made a living or at least profit off of slave trade. The slave trade between 1500-1700,was driven by chiefdoms and power and wealth were acknowledged by the number of slaves some one owned due to the law of no land owner ship. I am just really stuck and can't figure out why. I know the wealthy Africans profited from the slave trade but just confused. Please help.
This site has more information. Be sure to read the introduction and the Economic effects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_slave_trade
The slave trade had a significant economic impact on African states during the period you mentioned (1500-1700). To understand the basis of this impact, it's important to consider the historical context and the factors that contributed to it.
1. Demand for labor: The Atlantic slave trade emerged as European powers, particularly Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands, established colonies in the Americas. These colonies had a growing demand for labor in the form of enslaved Africans to work on plantations, mines, and in industries. The demand for slaves created a market where African states could profit.
2. Internal African dynamics: Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Africa had a diverse range of societies and economies, including various forms of centralized and decentralized political systems. Some African societies, particularly those situated near the coast or major trade routes, were able to capitalize on the slave trade and accumulate wealth through selling captives to European slave traders. Chiefs and elites in these areas often facilitated and benefited from this trade in slaves.
3. Social and cultural factors: Slavery and the slave trade were not new phenomena in Africa; they had existed in various forms for centuries. Social hierarchies already existed within African societies, and owning slaves was often a symbol of wealth and prestige. In some cases, African rulers participated in the slave trade to enhance their own power and status by acquiring captives from rival groups.
4. Intermediary role: African states served as intermediaries in the slave trade, acting as middlemen between European slave traders and African communities. They engaged in capturing, purchasing, and trading enslaved individuals to be transported across the Atlantic. Some states specialized in raiding or capturing people from rival communities in exchange for European goods like firearms, textiles, and alcohol.
It's important to note that not all Africans were complicit in or profited from the slave trade. Many communities resisted or became victims of the trade, while others were marginalized or exploited by the systems put in place by European powers.
To further your understanding, consider studying primary sources, historical accounts, and scholarship on the topic to gain a more nuanced view of the economic, social, and political impacts of the slave trade on African states.