The triangular trade was a three-legged transatlantic trade system that operated from the 16th to the 19th centuries, connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It was primarily centered on the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans and the exchange of goods between these three regions. How the triangular trade worked:
- The first leg began in Europe, where ships loaded with manufactured goods such as textiles, metals, firearms, tools, and alcoholic beverages sailed to the west coast of Africa. These goods were traded for enslaved Africans, many captured from the interior and brought to the so-called Slave Coast (modern-day Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Angola)
- The second leg, known as the Middle Passage, involved transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas, particularly to Brazil and the Caribbean. The conditions were brutal, with overcrowded ships and high mortality rates ranging from 10 to over 20 percent
- The third leg involved carrying goods produced in the Americas, such as sugar, molasses, tobacco, and cotton, back to Europe. These raw materials were used to manufacture goods that would restart the cycle. Additionally, trade between North American colonies and Europe was part of this system, with colonies exporting raw materials and importing European manufactured goods
This trade system was economically significant, fueling colonial economies and helping establish Britain as a dominant colonial power. However, it also caused the mass enslavement and exploitation of millions of Africans, profoundly shaping the social and economic history of the involved continents
. In summary, the triangular trade was a complex network of economic exchanges involving manufactured goods, enslaved Africans, and raw materials that linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas in a cycle of commerce and exploitation during the colonial era
