What does it mean that the slave trade became an arms race?

To defend themselves from slave raids, neighboring kingdoms needed European firearms, which they also bought with slaves. The slave trade had become an arms race, altering societies and economies across the continent.

What long term effects did the slave trade have on Africa?

The size of the Atlantic slave trade dramatically transformed African societies. The slave trade brought about a negative impact on African societies and led to the long-term impoverishment of West Africa. This intensified effects that were already present amongst its rulers, kinships, kingdoms and in society.

What percentage of slaves died en route to the New World?

Although it’s difficult to determine how many Africans died en route to the new world, it is now believed that between ten and twenty percent of those transported lost their lives.

How did the slave trade influence the gun slave cycle?

The gun-slave cycle essentially endogenizes the slaves-for-guns-derived channel by recognizing how the external slave trade influenced the economic, political and military motivations of Africans. 16

What was the third version of the gun slave hypothesis?

A third version of the hypothesis claims that the two processes reinforced each other and accelerated into a self-perpetuating gun-slave cycle which neither side could escape.

What was the relationship between gunpowder and slaves?

(1) Gunpowder imports and slave exports were co-integrated in a long-run equilibrium relationship. (2) Positive deviations from equilibrium gunpowder “produced” additional slave exports. This guns-for-slaves-in-production result survives 17 placebo tests that replace gunpowder with non-lethal commodities imports.

Who was the first to sell guns to Africans?

The sale of large numbers of guns and gunpowder to Africans began with Protestant slave traders not bound by Catholic prohibitions. 9 The Dutch were the first to sell large numbers, followed by the English as their participation in the slave trade grew. Fearful of losing their competitive position, the Portuguese quickly followed suit.