In 1775, the population of the colonies included about 500,000 African slaves. The Slave trade during this time was in full swing. The trade route included both the Atlantic and the Trans Atlantic route. The period in between the 16th and the 18th century was almost the peak period for slave trading. Maafa is the term most African and Afro-American scholars use to define the slave trading. In Swahili the term Maafa means a huge disaster. Slave trade gained popularity as each and every country was trying to increase its colony.