Were Europeans the first to use Africans as slaves?

No, Europeans were not the first to use Africans as slaves. Slavery has existed in various forms across different cultures and civilizations for centuries, well before European involvement. In Africa, various societies practiced forms of servitude and slavery among themselves. However, the transatlantic slave trade initiated by Europeans in the 15th century significantly intensified and expanded the scale of African slavery, leading to profound social and economic impacts.