Portuguese Explorers Expand the Slave Trade
Portuguese Explorers Expand the Slave Trade is a Grade 5 history skill from California myWorld Interactive, Chapter 2: Age of Exploration. Students learn how Portuguese explorers built trading posts along the African coast, initially trading for gold and ivory, before expanding to capture and buy enslaved Africans, making the slave trade a major and cruel business that brought wealth to Portugal.
Key Concepts
As Portuguese explorers sailed down the coast of Africa, they built forts and trading posts . At first, they traded European goods for African resources like gold and ivory.
Soon, this trade grew to include enslaved people. The Portuguese began capturing and buying Africans, forcing them into slavery. This made the slave trade a major, cruel business that brought wealth to Portugal.
Common Questions
How did Portuguese explorers expand the slave trade?
Portuguese explorers built trading posts along Africa's coast. While initially trading for gold and ivory, they began capturing and buying Africans, growing the slave trade into a major business.
What did Portugal trade for along the African coast?
Portuguese traders first traded European goods for African resources like gold and ivory. Over time, this trade grew to include enslaved people, which became enormously profitable.
Why is the Portuguese slave trade important to learn about?
The Portuguese slave trade was an early and significant step in building the transatlantic slave trade system that would forcibly transport millions of Africans to the Americas over the following centuries.
What textbook covers Portuguese exploration for Grade 5?
This topic is covered in California myWorld Interactive, Grade 5, Chapter 2: Age of Exploration.