Who was the first to enter the slave trade?

The first major European nation to engage in the transatlantic slave trade was Portugal, beginning in the 15th century. Portuguese traders initially focused on enslaving Africans from West Africa for labor in their colonies, particularly in Brazil and the Atlantic islands. Following Portugal, other European powers, including Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands, became involved in the slave trade, expanding it significantly over the following centuries. The trade played a crucial role in the establishment of the Atlantic economy and the exploitation of African populations.