In what manner did some African city-states, such as Dahomey, amass wealth?

• A. By cultivating cash crops
• B. Through trading with Europe
• C. By enslaving Africans through raiding nearby villages
• D. By becoming trade mediators

Answer: (C)

Some African city-states, such as Dahomey, accumulated wealth through the practice of enslaving Africans, often by conducting raids on nearby villages. This approach was part of a broader system where powerful states took control of human resources by capturing individuals from rival communities, which they then sold into the transatlantic slave trade. The demand for enslaved people created a profitable enterprise for these city-states, as they would trade captured individuals to European traders in exchange for goods, weapons, and other resources. This strategy significantly contributed to the wealth and power of states like Dahomey during the height of the transatlantic slave trade era.