The Portuguese era uniquely shaped African ethnic influence in the Americas

Evidence

It is undoubtedly the Portuguese era that marks the African ethnic influence in the new continent. It was the Portuguese who, by creating a vast network of traders, factors, and middlemen, and by profiting from the drop in the Indian population, achieved a market capable of absorbing such enormous quantities… . I believe that the Portuguese period was a special era for the slave trade, which was never repeated. — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 561

Categorization

• DEFINE: Vila asserts Portugal’s special role in establishing the Americas’ African ethnic character through its trading network.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 561
• XREF: connects to: Sudanese enslaved in Egypt fared better than African slaves in the Americas.; Portuguese expansion into Africa produced the historical category of the Negro; Pious and commercial motives fused in the Portuguese imperial venture (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Wolof and Fulani Muslims led the first slave revolt in the Americas in 1522 #exemplifies (0.70) — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 644
• Black slaves entered the Americas as early as 1501. #expands (0.60)
• Enslavement transferred complete African ontological and social systems to the Americas #expands (0.55)
• Palmares fell only after massive Portuguese military campaigns. #exemplifies (0.55)
• When John Dickinson, delegate to both the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention, described the advancement of nations, he (mistakenly) noted that the Portuguese arrival in India… #complicates (0.40)