What were the roles of European powers in the Atlantic Slave Trade?

What were the roles of European powers in the Atlantic Slave Trade?

The European powers played various roles in the Atlantic Slave Trade. They were primarily responsible for initiating and organizing the trade, as well as providing the ships and manpower needed for transportation. European powers such as Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands established colonies in the Americas and needed a large labor force to work on plantations and mines. They actively participated in capturing and purchasing enslaved Africans from West Africa, transporting them across the Atlantic, and selling them in the Americas. European powers also established trading posts along the African coast to facilitate the exchange of goods, including enslaved Africans. Additionally, they enacted laws and regulations to govern the trade and protect their economic interests. Overall, the European powers played a central role in the organization, expansion, and profitability of the Atlantic Slave Trade.