History The Triangular Trade Questions Medium
The main commodities traded in the Triangular Trade were slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.
The first leg of the Triangular Trade involved European ships sailing to Africa, where they traded goods such as textiles, guns, and alcohol in exchange for African slaves. These slaves were then transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas in the second leg of the trade.
In the Americas, the slaves were sold to plantation owners who used them for labor in the production of cash crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton. These raw materials were then transported back to Europe in the final leg of the Triangular Trade.
In Europe, the raw materials were used to manufacture goods such as textiles, rum, and weapons, which were then traded for more African slaves, restarting the cycle of the Triangular Trade.