uropeans captured Africans by raiding coastal
             communities. They soon realized that they required a much
             larger working force then they could obtain on their own and
             they began buying slaves from African rulers and traders.
             These rulers and traders became very wealthy by selling
             African slaves to the Europeans. Although the Europeans made
             a greater profit from the trade, African slave traders also
             prospered. In fact, many of them grew strong and powerful on
             the profits made from selling their fellow statesman.
             The African slave traders became obsessed with the goods the
             Europeans offered in exchange for slaves. They even bought
             merchandise such as cloth or jewelry, which could be obtained
             locally. But owning imported goods brought an individual
             prestige and power. Before the modern period, Africans bought
             iron and steel made in Africa; but the cheaper and more
             refined products that the Europeans brought soon dominated
             the market. Textiles represented a large portion of the
             imports obtained from Europe, creating a huge market for it
             in Africa, which helped stimulate the industrialization of
             textiles in Europe, while at the same time inhibiting the
             growth of indigenous production in Africa.
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