Graphs

The first graph shows a steady increase in population in Africa from 1500 to 1800. This seems contradictory to the slave trade which disrupted societies. However, it is surprising to see that population still grew and at a steady pace. The second graph shows a rapid increase in the volume of African slave exports from the 16th century to the 18th century. It surprises me that the graph makes it seem like a large amount of the population was whisked away as slaves but even the peak was only around 55,000 slaves compared to the population of 60 million total. The third pie graph shows that African slaves went to the Caribbean and Brazil while a fewer amount went to North/Central/South America. I also found it surprising how 50% of the slaves went to the Caribbean because it seems like a lot of people for not that much landmass compared to Central and South America. These diagrams do not really expand my understanding of the textbook's contents but instead reinforces it.