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1400
Invention of the Caravel
The caravel, a new piece of nautical technology at the time, had an aerodynamic hull and triangular sails which allowed the Portuguese sailors to sail along the African coast. This invention encouraged more expeditions and intrigue into the African continent, thus allowing the slave trade to begin. -
1441
Portugal Begins Slave Trade
Many historians agree that Portugal is the country that began the slave trade. Prince Henry the Navigator was the one who sent his men to "explore" parts of the African continent, and this expedition began the Portuguese interest in the enslavement of African people. -
1442
Portugal enslaves the Berbers
Following the expedition those enlisted in Prince Henry's crew of explorers raided an African settlement and kidnapped at least a dozen people. -
1445
Trading Post Established on Arguim
As the Portuguese influence in Africa expanded with more exploration, they were able to set up trading posts in which luxury items were able to be traded and sold. Among these items were African slaves. Posts like these allowed the Portuguese to maximize profits off of the slav trade. -
Period: 1460 to 1490
Portuguese Slave Traders Establish Colonies
The Portuguese came across uninhabited islands off the coast of Africa that they converted into colonies used as collection and selling hubs for slaves. Among these islands are the Cape Verde Islands and Sao Tome and Principe islands. -
1500
Portuguese First Travel to Brazil
The Portuguese first travel to Brazil in 1500 and developed permanent settlements soon after. Brazil would ultimately become Portugal's most successful and largest colony. Brazil was rich in many valuable natural resources as well as indigenous tribes, all of which were of great value to the global economy at the time. -
Period: 1501 to
4.9 Million Slaves Brought to Brazil
During the Atlantic Slave Trade, Brazil was the largest importer of slaves in the world. As Portugal's colony, an estimated 4.9 million slaves were forcibly brought to Brazil from Africa. This does not even include enslaved indigenous populations. Today, with the exception of Nigeria, Brazil is home to the largest population of people of African descent. -
Period: to
Sugar is Brazil's Most Profitable Export
Sugar would become Brazil's most profitable cash crop, one that requires dutiful attention and care. It is for this reason African Slave Trade to Brazil specifically flourished during this time, as a lot of labor was required to meet the demands for the valuable good. -
Gold and Silver Deposits Found in Brazil
When gold and silver deposits are discovered in Brazil, it pushed the Portuguese to employ more slave labor, both of native and African descent to mine the precious metals. -
Emperor of Brazil Attempts to End Slave Trade
The Emperor of Brazil spoke out against slave trade, saying that it was "unlawful" for any persons to be held as property for any reason. This excited many people as they assumed this would bring an end to slave trade in Brazil. However, more than a million new slaves were shipped to Brazil up until 1888 when it was fully abolished. -
Brazil Abolishes Slavery
Brazil becomes the last country in the western world to abolish slavery and marks the end of slavery on the global scale. Portugal was the country that is credited with slavery's terrible beginnings and it was their old colony that brought about the end of such a horrific period of history.