Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam 2026 - Free AP World History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The African Diaspora, primarily characterized by the forced migration of millions of Africans due to the transatlantic slave trade, had profound effects on both the societies from which these individuals were taken and those into which they were transported. The expansion of the slave trade is the most direct result of the African Diaspora on African societies. As European powers sought labor for their colonies, particularly in the Americas, they relied heavily on the procurement of enslaved Africans. This demand led to an intensification of the slave trade, with coastal African kingdoms and societies becoming increasingly involved in the capture and sale of individuals to meet European demands.

This expansion reshaped various aspects of African societies, including their economies, social structures, and relationships with neighboring communities. The ramifications were profound, as communities were destabilized, populations were diminished, and social hierarchies were transformed as the trade economy took precedence over traditional practices.

While other choices such as strengthening traditional leadership structures or improvements in agricultural technology might have occurred in some contexts, these were not direct consequences of the Diaspora in the same way that the expansion of the slave trade was. The increase in local artisan crafts also does not directly correlate with the broader implications of the African Diaspora, as it primarily reflects local economies and crafts