How was the continent of Africa enslaved from the 15th to 19th century? Was it because the technology of the Europeans was that much better for them to be able to do that?

Question

How was the continent of Africa enslaved from the 15th to 19th century? Was it because the technology of the Europeans was that much better for them to be able to do that?

In: 1

Answer 1

It is complicated, local tribes in Africa often were in conflict with each other and occasionally prisoners were kept after and used as slaves, these handful of slaves were then sold to the first visiting Europeans in exchange for metal, weapons and other items which gave the tribe an advantage over others. The tribes then went on raids with their new equipment and took more slaves, the Europeans then set up trading posts n the coast where substantial number of slaves were sold in exchange for equipment and encouraged the tribes to seize more slaves..