Introduction

__Introduction__
==For Africa, the 18th century was a major turning point, due to the Atlantic slave trade. The number of slaves being shipped increased dramatically to provide a workforce for sugar and cotton plantations. By this point, they were being treated as merchandise. The slave trade left a mark on the nation, and the effects of the slave trade still remains to this day.== ==In the 18th Century, Africa was known for its geographical features, thus the abundance of valuable resources. Africa’s Congo River was one of the longest rivers in the world, and the main African resources include salt, gold, and ivory. This characteristic of Africa was a great strength of the nation.== ==The Government of Africa and the trade were two of Africa’s weaknesses. The Government did not focus on the whole country, but only on the empire. The trade also negatively impacted Africa in terms of royal power, warfare, and the lack of healthy men.==