These European Towns Built on the Profits of Human Bondage - History Collection

3. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon was a pivotal hub in the early Atlantic slave trade, with Portuguese traders transporting countless enslaved Africans to Europe and the Americas. The immense profits from this trade helped fund the city’s iconic architecture, including its lavish palaces and ornate churches. In recent years, Lisbon has begun to confront this painful legacy, unveiling memorials and holding public discussions to honor the memory of those trafficked through its ports. For more on Lisbon’s role and contemporary reckoning, visit BBC News.

4. Bristol, England

Bristol became a major player in the transatlantic slave trade, with local merchants financing voyages that trafficked enslaved Africans and imported sugar, tobacco, and other goods produced through forced labor. The wealth generated from these ventures is still visible in Bristol’s impressive squares, warehouses, and civic buildings. Today, the city grapples with its history, particularly regarding statues and memorials that honor slave traders like Edward Colston. Heated debates and public actions continue to shape how Bristol remembers its past. Discover more at Bristol Post.

5. Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux’s prosperity in the 18th century was deeply intertwined with the slave trade and the commerce of colonial goods like sugar and coffee, all produced through enslaved labor. The city’s grand façades and elegant riverfront bear silent witness to fortunes amassed through exploitation. In recent years, Bordeaux has taken steps to acknowledge its role, unveiling memorials and updating museum exhibits to confront its history openly. To explore Bordeaux’s evolving relationship with this past, visit France 24.

6. Seville, Spain

Seville served as a vital port for the Spanish Empire, playing a central role in the trafficking of enslaved Africans and indigenous Americans throughout the Atlantic world. Its economic clout and urban splendor were closely linked to this commerce, much like Lisbon and other Iberian cities involved in the trade. Seville’s legacy as a slave-trading hub is increasingly recognized, with historians and the public examining its complex past. Learn more from Andalucia.com.

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam’s Golden Age prosperity was closely tied to the Dutch West India Company’s involvement in the slave trade across the Caribbean and South America. The city’s famed canals and imposing merchant houses were financed in part by the exploitation of enslaved people and colonial systems. Recently, Amsterdam has seen intense debates over monuments and public memory, with the city issuing a formal apology for its role in slavery and launching new educational initiatives. Read more at DutchNews.nl.

8. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen prospered during the height of the Danish slave trade, with merchants transporting enslaved Africans to Caribbean colonies such as the Danish West Indies. The profits from this trade are reflected in the city’s stately colonial-era buildings and warehouses. Today, Copenhagen is acknowledging its involvement, with new exhibitions and public apologies from city officials aiming to shed light on this troubling chapter. Discover more at The Local Denmark.

9. Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz played a pivotal role as a trading and financial powerhouse for the Spanish Empire, deeply entwined with the profits of slave labor in the Americas. Its bustling port connected Spain with other Atlantic cities, facilitating the flow of goods and wealth derived from enslaved people’s labor. The city’s elegant plazas and mercantile buildings are lasting reminders of this lucrative, exploitative era. For a deeper look at Cadiz’s role in the slave trade, visit History Today.

10. Genoa, Italy

Genoa’s influence as a maritime and financial powerhouse was shaped in part by its involvement in Mediterranean slave trading during the medieval and early modern periods. Genoese merchants traded enslaved Africans, Slavs, and other peoples, integrating human trafficking into the city’s economic fabric. This commerce helped cement Genoa’s legacy as an international banking center, with its wealth and institutions still visible today. For further reading on Genoa’s role in this history, see Mediterranean Historical Review.

11. Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow’s remarkable growth in the 18th and 19th centuries was fueled by the import of tobacco, sugar, and cotton—commodities produced by enslaved labor in the Americas. Wealthy Glasgow merchants, known as “Tobacco Lords,” invested heavily in these slave economies, shaping the city’s fortunes and skyline. In recent years, Glasgow has begun to recognize this troubling legacy, with official apologies and new initiatives aimed at education and reparative action. To learn more about Glasgow’s reckoning with its past, visit The Guardian.

12. La Rochelle, France

La Rochelle played a significant role in the Atlantic slave trade through its participation in the notorious triangular trade, dispatching ships to Africa and the Caribbean. The fortunes generated from enslaved labor enriched the city’s merchants, leaving a lasting legacy visible in the grandeur of its old town and maritime architecture. Today, La Rochelle acknowledges this aspect of its history with memorials and educational efforts aimed at remembrance and reflection. Read more at France 24.

13. Baltimore, Ireland

Though less prominent, Irish ports like Baltimore played a supporting role in the slave trade by supplying provisions, ships, and financial services that sustained the broader European slave economy. This connection underscores Ireland’s place in the wider web of exploitation as the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Learn more at The Irish Times.

14. Venice, Italy

Venice was a major force in the medieval Mediterranean slave trade, trafficking Slavs, North Africans, and others throughout its vast commercial network. The city’s wealth from this trade contributed to its famed palaces, churches, and civic projects, helping shape Venice into a center of art and power. These profits left their mark on Venetian society and culture, reflecting a hidden chapter behind its splendor. For more, see Mediterranean Historical Review.

15. Saint-Malo, France

Saint-Malo’s notorious privateers participated in the Atlantic slave trade, bringing wealth that transformed the city’s skyline with grand mansions and a thriving port. Today, Saint-Malo’s maritime museums and public discussions reflect a growing willingness to confront this legacy and remember those who suffered. As we admire these historic towns, it is vital to recognize the human cost woven into their foundations. Read more at Connexion France.