Lisbon in the Big Picture of the Slave Trade, 1701-1828

This article is based on a new dataset —specifically focused on Lisbon’s role in outfitting ships and supplying cargo for the slave trade between 1701 and 1828— which complements the records of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database. By analyzing these new data, we conclude that the capital of the Portuguese empire played a significant role in outfitting slave ships until at least the late 18th century. Additionally, by examining a series of outbound cargoes, we show that vessels from Lisbon engaged in trade with Angola carried higher-value cargoes than those departing from Brazil. Thus, the article also challenges prevailing historiographical interpretations that emphasize Brazilian dominance while downplaying Portuguese involvement in the slave trade.