The Portuguese were the first slave traders. When they were exploring by sail the west coast of Africa, they found various black tribes dealing in black slaves captured in various tribal wars and raids. They bought them, took them to Portugal, and after awhile, began a steady business bringing up slaves from Africa and selling them all over the European continent, then in parts of South America, and the Caribbean.
The Arabs were very large into the slave trading business, also.
Left liberal "historians" have rewritten history to suit their purpose of blaming the United States for the slave trade.
L.W.
