The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Explained

This video will look at how the slave trade started, how slavery became so popular, and how European slavery transformed into the Trans-Atlantic Slavery. While also talking a bit about African slavery, European colonisation, plantations, and more.

Credits
- Research: Mrs Scope
- Audio: Seb. Soto
- Writing, voice over, and animation: Avery from History Scope

Social Media

Sources:
H. Thomas (1997) The Slave Trade. Weidenfeld&Nicolson. London
E. Williams (2021) Capitalism and Slavery. Penguin Random House. London
L. N. Moore (2021) Teaching Black History to White People. University of Texas Press. Austin
K. Manjapra (2022) Black Ghost of Empire (2022) Allen Lane. London
Google Map (for the part about the Western Sahara

[fraktaalimuoto]

You have a rare talent of explaining complex systems in an understandable way.

[cicalinarrot]

"Anyone who actually obeyed the law were easily outcompeted by another slave plantation owner who did not obey the law".
This is basically how the global labour market still works. We have child/slave/safety labour global rules but, until someone can ignore them and make more money... do we?

[chrisstiff]

"it was hot, it was wet, and it was fertile" oh my

[unematrix]

In case our Christmas is too cheerful, here comes History Scope to bring our mood down again :D

But in all seriousness: Great video!

[orboakin]

Great video, friend. As an African (Nigerian), it is refreshing to see more objective coverage of the history of slavery in Africa. I appreciate how you point out how the slave trade already existed in Africa long before Europeans came and how it is was facilitated by other Africans and Arabs, and the Europeans just used that to establish the trans Atlantic trade. Most people here, and elsewhere, wrongly assume all slavery in Africa started with the Europeans but thanks for not being like that.

[deepcheddar]

An excellent, sober explanation of the history here. What really sets your video apart is your attempts to explain the "why". Without an explanation of the incentives/mechanics of the trade, these videos typically just devolve into "earlier people bad". But weaving in details like "Europe getting richer -> the former poor wanting calories -> sugar provides calories -> sugar needs slaves -> Spain sought slaves" makes it clear that slavery was part of a wider system of economics and culture rather than just the poor moral judgment of a previous era. We can then see our modern world has similar incentive structures that produce dystopian outcomes, and perhaps learn from the past rather than just condemn it.

[babakush]

Great Work! I love how you bring in your own ideas, side facts and topics around the theme like why aren't slaves used in europe, the role of Portugal, spain, monopolys or how it evolved out of indulged serfs that truly separates your video from standard documentations. A truly masterpiece thank you! Very interesting video ❤

[soulman]

It’s literally insane to live in a time of such amazing knowledge transfer that I, as a normal man in the midwestern United States who loves history, and learning, but never really had good educational opportunities to continue learning in a “traditional” fashion can just casually pop on a video made by another normal human being presumably for their own enjoyment and education that is a comprehensive and easily digested history of the transatlantic slave trade.

Thank you so very much for making this video, providing resources to learn further, and sharing. This is the peak of what the internet is about, the transference of knowledge, skill, and understanding.

Simply amazing, what a time to be alive and learning!!

[SomasAcademy]

~5:56 A lack of settlements is not the sole reason why there weren't a lot of ships sailing up and down the West Saharan coastline. It was certainly a factor, but currents and wind patterns also mattered a lot; if you tried sailing up the western coast of Africa, after a certain point the currents started pushing against you. That meant that Africans had a hard time sailing north, and anybody who tried sailing south would have an easy enough time getting there but would have to ditch their ship and trek across the Sahara if they wanted to go home. It wasn't until the Portuguese discovered the "Little Wheel" current system (basically a smaller version of the "Great Wheel, " the current/wind pattern that enabled the later Triangular Trade) that this changed, as they learned that by sailing west from the African Coast, you could ride the winds and currents in a loop back to Europe.

[conors]

Very educational, it’s something you know, or at least you think you know, but you never really realise just how intricate the entire thing was to 1 cultures economy at the detriment of others. The things human beings will do out of insatiable greed

[swaggery]

Most interesting tidbit of information, was the industrial revolution was started to continue slavery.

[jronyt]

Bruuuh getting drunk and waking up a slave is wiiiild

[kkacpersky]

Another great work of yours, but I am just missing one piece here. The Slavic slave trade. It would be super interesting if you could touch that subject of early Western European kingdoms raiding Slavic tribes for slave trade. Genoa and Venice were the main ports sending captured slavs to sell in the Middle East. I hope you can touch on this part of history in the future!

[baronvonjo]

I find it so ironic this video popped up after watching a video on the less famous but more horrible Arab Slave trade. I guess because they castrated all the men and therefore no descendants its just not talked about but it lasted 1000 years though. I felt kinda bad for not knowing more about it.

[Lee-edwv]

Best quick overview Ive seen.
You put in just enough of almost all parts of how this happened

[imperialgaming]

Often times I question history and question the choices people made. But your videos make it seem clear as day, and the perspective I have gained into these peoples lives has been absolutely invaluable!

[dhrubaintisher]

I just found your channel! Your content is immaculate. Starting with this video.

[anubisREAL]

thanks for the video, merry christmas

[PapaSwisha]

Why don't people talk about the slave trade going east done by the Arabs to my people and I hate when yall compare indentured slavery to chattel slavery 🤦🏾🤦🏾

[bavelnaard]

Refreshing look on a lot of topics that are obviously related to the societal problems we face globally in the present.
It's never to be explained as a This OR That, but as an AND. It's pretty complex, as are humans inherently.

Good job en bedankt man.