Why did the Portuguese need so many slaves?

The expeditions sent by Henry came back with African slaves as a way to compensate for the expenses of their voyages. The enslavement of Africans was seen as a military campaign because the people that the Portuguese encountered were identified as Moorish and thus associated with Islam.

Why did slavery grow during the age of exploration?

Diseases brought by Europeans wiped out as much as 90 percent of the native population of the Americas . With so many people dying, there was a huge shortage of available workers in the Americas . This was one reason Europeans turned to African slaves to work their plantations.

When did slavery start in the age of exploration?

The date we recognize for the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia is 1619, but the first recorded arrival in North America occurred 117 years earlier in 1502 when Juan de Córdoba sent several of his black slaves from Spain to Hispaniola.

Why did European nations take over the region?

Many European nations exhibited a growing interest in colonies as sources of raw materials and new markets and as potential outlets for excess population and for administrators who could not be accommodated at home. Opportunities for individual adventurism and profit also ran high.

What European countries started slavery?

The transatlantic slave trade began during the 15th century when Portugal, and subsequently other European kingdoms, were finally able to expand overseas and reach Africa. The Portuguese first began to kidnap people from the west coast of Africa and to take those they enslaved back to Europe.

How did Portuguese exploration lead to the creation of trading empire?

How did Portuguese exploration lead to the creation of a trading empire? They seized key ports around the Indian Ocean, home to many goods and spices that were unique. He wanted to make it to Asia to find a faster trade route by sailing west, was sponsored by Spain, and actually landed in the Caribbean.