How By 1700 slavery existed?

By 1700, slavery had become an established institution, particularly in the Americas and the Caribbean, largely driven by the demand for labor in plantations cultivating cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton. The transatlantic slave trade forcibly brought millions of Africans to the New World, where they were subjected to brutal conditions and dehumanizing treatment. European colonial powers, including Britain, Spain, and Portugal, implemented legal frameworks to support and regulate slavery, solidifying it as a critical component of their economies. This period marked the beginning of deep-rooted racial and social hierarchies that would have lasting impacts on society.