• Systems connected Europe, west and south Asia, northeast and north Africa
• By early 13th century, Italian merchants established slaving ports
• Portugal and Spain followed Italian model of plantation slavery
• Spain and Portugal dominated until 17th century, Britain and Portugal until 19th
  • In early nineteenth century, Britain made international slavery illegal
  • Portugal and Spain stopped in late-19th century when Cuba and Brazil abolished system
• Reconquista of Iberian peninsula set stage for slave system
  • Gained nautical knowledge and technologies through Muslim scholars
  • Allowed for raiding African communities for captives
  • By 15th century, African captives were increasingly replacing others
• By end of 17th century, enslaved Africans replaced others as labor in America