African Slave Trade Research Paper

In both Africa and North America internal trade networks continued to connect the populations of both regions. However, with the discovery of North America, maritime trade networks greatly expanded between these and other regions. Also, the Colombian Exchange and the Triangular Trade led to the introduction of new goods to both of these regions. Internal trade networks existed in both Africa and North America in this period. Throughout this era, the African slave trade existed both internally and with Muslim groups. Even though throughout the early modern period, slave exportation rose drastically, slaves would continue to be sold along the coasts. As well, the Africans continued to utilize Trans-Saharan trade routes. The Trans-Saharan routes
This would result in the arrival of new products as well as the exportation of goods in both regions. In America, slaves were the new product introduced. These slaves were used to fill the gap of human labors needed to work on the large plantations of America. As well, the Colombian Exchange would lead to the introduction of a variety of new plants and animals to North America, potatoes, maize and horses being prime examples. As well, diseases including small pox reached America, killing off a large percent of Native Americans. Finally, new technologies such as guns reached the continent. In Africa, the Colombian Exchange led to the high importation of manufactured goods in exchange for the slaves. These included guns and rum. Despite the population loss during the slave trade, the introduction of key American crops would also lead to a growth in Africa’s human population. In both Africa and North America trade networks connected both regions and populations. Maritime trade networks greatly expanded between these and other regions. Also, the Colombian Exchange and Triangular Trade routes led to the introduction of new goods to both of these