The major Atlantic slave trading nations, ordered by trade volume, were: the Portuguese<span>, the </span>British<span>, the </span>French<span>, the </span>Spanish<span>, and the </span>Dutch Empire. Several had established outposts on the African coast where they purchased slaves from local African leaders.[5]These slaves were managed by a factor who was established on or near the coast to expedite the shipping of slaves to the New World. Slaves were kept in a factory while awaiting shipment. Current estimates are that about 12 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic,[6]<span> although the number purchased by the traders is considerably higher, as the passage had a high death rate.</span>[7][8]<span> Near the beginning of the nineteenth century, various governments acted to ban the trade, although illegal smuggling still occurred. In the early twenty-first century, several governments issued apologies for the transatlantic slave trade.</span>
I think it is the first one
So they wouldn't go in debt sorry i just learned this
500BC is the earliest known civilization in west Africa..
