Answer: Fifteenth-century slavery was predominantly based on The transatlantic slave trade. A trade that involved trading people of African Descent for goods such as gold, ivory; and spices. Then the Africans were sold by the Americans or Europeans for sugar, tobacco, cotton, guns, and ammunition. The difference is that slaves were taken captive from their homeland and traded for the goods of the white man. Slaves were transported across the Atlantic Ocean on ships shackled by hand and foot to one another lying down side by side, they died of suffocation, malnutrition, and disease. The ancient word slavery was different because it resulted from debt, being born to a slave so by default you become one too, the abandonment of a child, war, or even being punished for a crime whether innocent or guilty.