Who enslaved the slaves?

The transatlantic slave trade involved various actors, including European traders and colonial powers, who captured and sold enslaved individuals. Many enslaved Africans were initially captured by rival African tribes or groups and then sold to European slave traders. The system was supported by a complex network of economic interests and institutions that perpetuated the enslavement and exploitation of people for labor. Ultimately, it was a combination of local and foreign forces that facilitated and profited from this inhumane practice.