Chapter 14 Part 2 - Economic Transformations

Part 2 of chapter 14 mainly focuses on the Atlantic Slave Trade. The Atlantic Slaved Trade took place between the years of 1500 and 1866. About 12.5 million people were taken from Africa and were transported on ships to the Americas or other parts of the world. This aspect of globalization surely had the most profound consequences on human life.

Within Africa, the slave trade caused many changes as well. Some societies were completely disrupted and corrupted, while on the other hand some African societies were strengthened. Since so many of these African slaves were transported to the Americas there were elements of African culture that was mixes into the making of American culture. Issues of race caused by this forced slavery are still present in the 21st century due to the absolute oppression of these people.

During the Atlantic Slave Trade the type of slavery that emerged was quite different from the other forms of slavery that were present prior to this. The slaves were absolutely essential to the economy of colonial America. The slaves were treated as dehumanized property who did not have any rights in the society of their owners. The identity of Africa with "blackness" arose at this time, which was unfortunately passed down from generation to generation.

Something that is interesting is that the Europeans did not attempt military conquest when they obtained slaves from Africa. The African merchants and political elites actually sold the slaves and were dealt with like equals to the Europeans. The African slave sellers would buy textiles, cowrie shells, metal goods, fire arms, tobacco, alcohol, ect... In the seventeenth century the slave trade was generally low in numbers, however between 1700 and 1850 the slave trade hit its high point. Millions of slaves were imported from Africa during these years.

The slave trade produced economic stagnation and social disruption. In Africa, there was little positive change since those who were benefiting from the trade did not invest in their societies. Because substantially more men than women were shipped to the Americas, the women who remained in Africa faced increased labor demands. In the Kongo, elites of would obtain their own . female slaves for labor. Different societies through Africa faced different impacts from the slave trade, with some being positive and many being negative.

Ultimately globalization took root in the three centuries of the early modern era. Unfortunately this era was tied to empire building and slavery which was fortunately discredited by the twentieth century. Nonetheless, the early modern era globalization transformed the economy as people knew it and truly turned it into a global economy.