12. The Atlantic Slave Trade Peak (18th Century)
The 18th century marked the peak of the Atlantic slave trade, during which millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas under horrific conditions. Estimates suggest that approximately 12.5 million Africans were captured and shipped across the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries, with the highest volume occurring in the 18th century. The journey, known as the Middle Passage, was brutal, with many captives perishing due to disease, malnutrition, and abuse. The social trauma inflicted by this trade continues to affect societies centuries later. While slavery existed globally, the Atlantic trade was unparalleled in its brutality and scale (history.com).
