What is the Triangular Trade?

History The Triangular Trade Questions



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What is the Triangular Trade?

The Triangular Trade refers to a historical trading system that involved three main regions: Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It was named "triangular" because it formed a triangular route of trade. The trade involved the exchange of goods, slaves, and raw materials between these regions. European merchants would sail to Africa, where they would trade goods such as textiles, firearms, and alcohol for African slaves. These slaves were then transported to the Americas, where they were sold and used as labor on plantations. In return, the Americas would export raw materials, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, back to Europe. The Triangular Trade played a significant role in the development of the Atlantic economy and the growth of European colonial powers.