What is Atlantic slave trade?
[[File:Slave Auction Ad.jpg|thumb|Reproduction of a handbill advertising a slave auction in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], in 1769.]] {{Slavery}} The '''Atlantic slave trade''' was the [[sell]]ing of [[Africa|African]] [[Slave|slaves]] by [[Europe|Europeans]] in and around the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It lasted from the 15th century to the 19th century. Most slaves were shipped from [[West Africa]] and brought over to the [[New World]] on a [[Slave trip|slave ship]]. The slaves on these ships lived in unhealthy conditions. Many died on the ships. The journey by ship was known as the [[Middle Passage]]. == Sources of slaves == Some slaves were [[wikt:capture|capture]]d in [[battle]] with Europeans or through [[raid]]s and [[kidnapping]] by Europeans.<ref name=ISM>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/africa/capture_sale.aspx |title=The capture and sale of slaves |publisher=International Slave Museum |access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> Some were sold into slavery as [[punishment]] or to pay a [[debt]] to Europeans, usually by other Africans.<ref name=ISM/> Then they were [[wikt:shackle|shackled]] together and marched to the [[coast]] on journeys lasting weeks or months.<ref name=ISM/> When they arrived they were imprisoned in [[Fortification|forts]] where they were [[Purchase|purchased]] by other Europeans. Most [[Historian|historians]] today think that 12 to 13 million Africans arrived in the New World.<ref>Thomas, Hugh 1997. ''The Slave Trade: the history of the Atlantic slave trade 1440–1870''. London: Picador, 1997. {{ISBN|0-330-35437-X}}</ref> The Dahomian army was involved and traded slaves for [[Weapon|weapons]] to protect themselves. King Gezo of [[Dahomey]] said in the 1840s:{{better source|date=December 2024}} {{quote|The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth...the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery...''<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Anglo-American Magazine|date=July–De