Therefore, the Euro-African trade, instead of further stimulating the African economy, actually limited production of many items and drained it of much of its most productive manpower.
The rulers, who had voluntarily and unwittingly involved themselves in this gigantic trade, soon found themselves trapped.

Those who wanted to eliminate or reduce the trade in slaves and who preferred to develop other aspects of a trading economy, found themselves helpless.

A ruler who would not provide the Europeans with the slaves they desired was then bypassed by all the European traders.

Besides losing the revenue from this trade, his own military position was weakened.

Any ruler who did not trade slaves for guns could not have guns.