Question

Which statement best describes the earliest slave trade by the Portuguese?

A. The Portuguese introduced slavery to African countries so Africans could make a profit.
B. The Portuguese changed the way slaves were traded in order to make a larger profit.
C. The Portuguese diverted some of the existing slave trade from central Africa to the coast.
D. The Portuguese were reluctant to participate in the slave trade since their king banned slavery.

Answer 1

The answer is c. the Portuguese diverted some of the existing slave trade from central Africa to the coast.

Answer 2

B. The Portuguese changed the way slaves were traded in order to make a larger profit.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the Portuguese first explored the African coasts, they were looking for a route to Asia in order to trade. They were also looking for valuable resources like gold or silver. However, they did not find many. For this reason, they brokered alliances with some African nations, which sold slaves to the Portuguese in exchange for a small profit.

The Portuguese then took the slaves to Portuguese colonies, mainly Brazil, and also resold the slaves to other European Powers like Spain and France.