Which statement summarizes how Portuguese traders amplified the slave trade?
Portuguese traders amplified the slave trade by pioneering the use of African slaves for labor in sugar plantations, establishing trading posts along the African coast, and introducing the lucrative transatlantic slave trade to the European colonies in the Americas.
The Portuguese traders amplified the slave trade through the following steps:
1. Exploration and colonization: In the 15th century, Portuguese explorers known as the "idadees" established colonies along the West African coast, particularly in modern-day Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola.
2. Capture and enslavement: Portuguese traders engaged in capturing Africans through various means, including warfare, raids, and purchased slaves from local African leaders. They would then transport these enslaved individuals to their colonies and later to other parts of the world.
3. Development of trade networks: The Portuguese established trading forts and settlements along the coast, creating a network of trade routes and partnerships with African rulers and merchants. This allowed them to establish a steady supply of slaves through barter or exchange for goods such as textiles, firearms, and alcohol.
4. Introduction of the transatlantic slave trade: The Portuguese were the first European nation to introduce the transatlantic slave trade, initiating it in the early 16th century. They transported Africans from their colonies to the Americas, particularly Brazil and the Caribbean, to meet the growing demand for labor in sugar plantations, mines, and other industries.
5. Refinement of slave trading practices: Portuguese traders developed efficient methods of capturing, transporting, and selling slaves. They established slave markets, organized slave auctions, and implemented strict systems of control and punishment to maintain order during the slave trade.
6. Expansion and influence: The Portuguese dominion over the Atlantic slave trade expanded over time, controlling important ports and establishing dominance in the trade through military power, alliances with other European powers, and influential treaties such as the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Through these steps, Portuguese traders substantially amplified the slave trade, laying the foundation for the massive enslavement of Africans during the subsequent centuries.