Why did the Europeans land in Africa and why did they enslave the people on the land?

Europeans landed in Africa primarily for economic gain, seeking resources like gold, ivory, and later, agricultural products. The transatlantic slave trade emerged as a brutal solution to labor shortages in the Americas, where European settlers needed workers for plantations. Enslaving African people was justified by a mix of economic interests and racist ideologies that dehumanized them, viewing them as commodities rather than individuals with rights. This exploitation had devastating consequences for African societies and contributed to a legacy of inequality and trauma.