Brazil's involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Transatlantic Slave Trade
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Brazil’s Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Background
Today, countries take tough stances against human trafficking, and perpetrators get harsh treatments. However, there was a time in the world when enriching oneself at the expense of another person was deemed okay. Actually, the countries that are currently taking tough stances on heinous acts like human trafficking and kidnapping were the ones heavily involved in acts of exploitation or slavery. Slavery was such a lucrative business, and Europe and the United States were built off the backs of slaves. Today, these countries are some of the wealthiest in the world, and few want to admit that their years of exploitation contribute to the current global economic strata. Slavery is depicted as sinful and heinous. However, it is through slavery that some of the economies of the world were built, especially the transatlantic slave trade or the Atlantic slave trade. The Transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation of slaves from Africa to the Americas. While the numbers are not exact, it is estimated that the transatlantic slave trade helped to ship close to 11 million Africans. The above happened between the 16th and 19th century.[Buchholz, K. “The Countries Most Active in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.” 2020. Statista. Accessed November 24, 2020, from /chart/22057/countries-most-active-trans-atlantic-slave-trade/]
In the United States, slavery is widely discussed and because of its position in the world, the U.S. is often forced to defend itself against its citizens, especially the African American community who still feel the effects of slavery. However, countries like Brazil and Cuba are somehow never mentioned, even though they did receive more slaves than the U.S. Brazil, for example, is said to have received more slaves than any other country in the Americas. However, there is not much said about its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. A lot of information appears to be missing as indicated by da Silva and Ribeiro. However, this paper seeks to address Brazil’s involvement in one of the most horrific and shameful period and eras of the world.[Da Silva, D., & Ribeiro, A. “Amazonia and North-East Brazil in the Atlantic slave trade: an assessment of the Brazilian slave trade North of Rio de Janeiro.” Global Currents, Vo. 17, Issue. 4, pp. 485-507.]
Countries Involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
However, before delving deeper into Brazil, it is crucial to examine the countries that made the transatlantic slave trade a success the many centuries it existed. While assessing history, Britain often comes out as the most evil and vile superpower, and this mainly stems from the fact that Britain had the most colonies, and built its economy on the backs of slaves. However, Portugal is the country that was the most active during the transatlantic slave trade. Buchholz reports that in Brazil, it was Portugal that made use of “forced labor of Africans in their Latin American colonies in present-day Brazil.” Portugal’s footprints are all over Brazil, and they date as far back as the 16th century when the first Portuguese ships with African slaves docked. Aside from the Portuguese, the British were also just as guilty since they transported millions of slaves to the Americas. Other countries that were involved include France, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. Below is an image showcasing the countries that took part, and the number of enslaved Africans that were shipped.
Brazil’s Involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade
Every colony in the world served a purpose for its master. The Brazil’s colonial economy served the purpose of producing raw materials for Portugal. Labor was a key ingredient or factor that was needed to help ensure that Brazil was able to maintain a steady supply of the needed raw materials. Before delving deeper into the above details, it is crucial to first mention the history of the transatlantic slave trade in Brazil. The date or year when African slaves arrived in Brazil is unknown. However, Rout notes that “the earliest recorded shipment from Africa to Brazil was made in 1538 by Lopes Bixorda, slave dealer in the capitania [province] of Bahia, eight years after the Portuguese discover of Brazil.” As per the above claim, African slaves appeared in Brazil way before slavery was authorized by the Portuguese crown. However, according to da Silva and Ribeiro, the no records of Lopes’s enterprise have survived which further calls to question the validity of the statements made above.[Rout, Leslie B. "Race and Slavery in Brazil." The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 1, no. 1 (1976): 73-89. Accessed November 24, 2020. /stable/40255136.]
However, it should be noted that in 1549, the Portuguese crown decreed that planters “could import up to 120 slaves.” From this point, it is believed that slavery in Brazil increased, and was now open for Africans as well.[Rout, Leslie B. "Race and Slavery in Brazil." The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 1, no. 1 (1976): 73-89. Accessed November 24, 2020. /stable/40255136.]
One of the major reasons why slaves were needed in Brazil was sugar production. In ...