Part 3/9:
The 18th century ushered in a harrowing epoch with the alarming rise of the transatlantic slave trade. France quickly became entrenched in this brutal commerce, driven by the insatiable demand for labor in the Caribbean's sugar plantations. The heart-wrenching reality unfolded as millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes, subjected to unimaginable cruelty and forced labor. The impact of this dark legacy continues to cast a shadow over French and African relations today.