Atlantic trading systems

Definition

Atlantic trading systems refer to the interconnected network of trade routes that emerged during the late modern period, connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These systems facilitated the exchange of goods, resources, and enslaved laborers across the Atlantic Ocean.

Related terms

Transatlantic Slave Trade: The transatlantic slave trade was a part of the Atlantic trading systems where millions of Africans were forcibly transported as slaves to work on plantations in the Americas.

Triangular Trade: Triangular trade was a specific pattern within the Atlantic trading systems involving three main legs: Europe would send manufactured goods to Africa; Africa would then send enslaved individuals to the Americas; finally, America would export cash crops (such as sugar or tobacco) back to Europe.

Mercantilism: Mercantilism was an economic theory prevalent during this period which emphasized maximizing exports while minimizing imports. It influenced policies related to colonialism and shaped the dynamics of Atlantic trading systems.