The impact of the international slave trade on the African continent was extensive. Negative implications can be seen on the personal, family, communal, and continental levels. In addition to the millions of able-bodied individuals captured and transported, the death toll and the economic and environmental destruction resulting from wars and slave raids were startling high. It is estimated that the population of Africa remained stagnant until the end of the nineteenth century (Impact of the Slave Trade on Africa 2020).
Some African states, such as the Asante and the Dahomey, became wealthy from slave trades in which they amassed large quantities of resources. Other states were completely destroyed and their populations decimated as they were absorbed by rivals.
Besides its demographic toll, the slave trade, and the Africans' resistance to it, led to profound social and political changes. Social relations were restructured and traditional values subverted. The slave trade resulted in the development of predatory regimes, stagnation, or regression. Many communities moved as far from the slavers' route as possible. The slave trade hindered their technological and economic development as they devoted their energy to hiding and defending themselves (Impact of the Slave Trade on Africa 2020).
In total, roughly 30 million Africans were taken into slavery severely depleting villages, towns, and economic structure through the Arab and Western slave trades.
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