The transatlantic slave trade caused the forced removal from Africa of millions of Africans. 'Shipments were all by Europeans to markets controlled by Europeans, and this was in the interest of European capitalism and nothing else.' Starting from the arrival of Portuguese ships on west African shores in 1444, the Europeans set up an elaborate triangular trading system to transport enslaved Africans, import plantation produce, and export European goods to both Africa and the Americas. These were severely disrupted by Europeans to create wealth for themselves.Įuropean dominance over most of Africa through the transatlantic slave trade lasted 440 years, from 1444 to 1885. Before the Europeans arrived in Africa, Africa had vibrant economic, social and political structures. Europe’s past (and present) exploitation of Africa played a significant part.
What caused Africa’s underdevelopment is a complex issue. Massive empires existed in Zimbabwe and Zululand (to name two) and were crushed by the land grab of the colonial empires in the 19th century.' Frederic Caillaurd, during his quest to discover the source of the Nile, marvelled at the structures of Egyptian society. 'How can anyone claim Africa did not have societies before the arrival of colonialism? Political, economic and social structures existed in African society well before the 19th century.
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