The Slave Trade was a historical practice where millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and sold into slavery, primarily in the Americas and Europe. This trade began in the 16th century and continued into the 19th century, driven by the demand for labor on plantations and in mines. The process involved capturing individuals, often through raids or warfare, and transporting them across the Atlantic Ocean in brutal conditions known as the Middle Passage. Many did not survive the journey, and those who did faced harsh treatment and exploitation in their new environments.