What is the triangular trade?
Q: What is the triangular trade?
A: The triangular trade is a system of trading between three ports or regions. It usually develops when a region exports resources that are not needed in the region from which its main imports come, and instead these resources are exported to a third region.
Q: When did the Atlantic slave trade take place?
A: The Atlantic slave trade took place from the late 16th to early 19th centuries.
Q: What were some of the goods traded during this time?
A: Goods that were traded in the Atlantic economy during this time included rum, slaves, sugar, tobacco, gold, spices, fish, lumber and manufactured goods.
Q: How was mercantilism related to triangular trading?
A: Mercantilism was tied into triangular trading because it thought it was beneficial for European countries to have colonies that only traded with them. These colonies would provide resources such as cash crops which could be exported back to Europe.
Q: What does "middle passage" refer to in relation to triangular trading?
A: The middle passage refers to the transportation of African slaves from West Africa across the Atlantic Ocean to American colonies where they were used as labor on cash crops being exported back to Europe.
Q: Why did triangular trading become less common in the 20th century?
A: Triangular trading became less common in the 20th century due to free trade and ships specialized for particular cargoes.
