What were some of the primary methods used to capture Africans for the Transatlantic Slave Trade?

The Transatlantic Slave Trade primarily involved the capture of Africans through warfare, kidnapping, and raids. During this period, various African ethnic groups and kingdoms engaged in conflicts that resulted in the capture of individuals who were then sold into slavery. Additionally, some captives were abducted directly through kidnappings or raids conducted by rival groups or European slavers. This violent and coercive means of capturing Africans was instrumental in supplying the demand for enslaved labor in the Americas.

Voluntary enlistment, while it could occur in certain contexts, was not a predominant method for capturing individuals for the slave trade. Diplomatic negotiations were sometimes used between European traders and African leaders, but this was not the primary mechanism for obtaining enslaved people. Trading gold and other valuable resources occurred among African kingdoms and European traders but did not directly involve the acquisition of enslaved individuals. Thus, the methods of warfare, kidnapping, and raids stand out as the primary means by which Africans were captured for the Transatlantic Slave Trade.