1642-1807: The slave trade from West Central Africa underwent a massive sevenfold expansion during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as the global dem…

1642-1807: The slave trade from West Central Africa underwent a massive sevenfold expansion during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as the global demand for labor intensified. While Luanda remained a central hub, new ports such as Loango and Malembo north of the Congo River became significant trading sites starting in the 1670s. To the south, the port of Benguela experienced rapid growth after 1700, further extending the reach of the Portuguese maritime system. Unlike the Portuguese-controlled ports to the south, the trading venues north of the Congo River remained under African jurisdiction and were open to merchants of all nationalities.