Impact of African Slave Trade on Global Commerce

What would have happened if Africa hadn't supplied Europeans with so many slaves?

a) Global commerce would have thrived due to fewer labor disputes. b) The industrial revolution would have happened earlier. c) The Atlantic slave trade would not have taken place. d) Africa would have dominated global commerce.

Final Answer:

If Africa had not supplied so many slaves, the impact on global commerce would have seen potentially stronger African manufacturing, fewer labor disputes, and significant alterations in the rise of European economies and global capitalism.

Explanation: If Africa hadn't been able to supply Europeans with so many slaves, global commerce might have been significantly affected in a number of ways. Without the devastating consequences of the slave trade, African societies could have developed very differently. The loss of millions of people not only reduced the potential for cultural and social progress but also hindered various industries within Africa itself.

For example, African manufacturing suffered extensively due to the outflow of laborers, which prevented the development of a continent-wide market for local industries such as textiles and metalworking. As the slave trade continued, conflicts arose which perpetuated a state of warfare that destabilized many African regions and prevented further economic development. The Atlantic slave trade reshaped African societies, but without it, it is possible that Africa could have taken a different path in the world economy, potentially leading to stronger domestic industries and a more stable political climate.

The Trans-Atlantic slave trade directly supported the colonies in the New World by providing the labor necessary for the production of commodities like sugar, cotton, and tobacco. This trade was crucial to the rise of global capitalism during the period and the expansion of European economies. Without such a trade, the dynamics of global commerce would likely have been different, potentially altering the timing and nature of events such as the Industrial Revolution.