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Transatlantic Trade

Definition

The transatlantic trade refers to the exchange of goods, including slaves, between Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the colonial period. It involved the transportation of raw materials from the colonies to Europe and finished products from Europe to the colonies.

Analogy

Think of transatlantic trade like a massive highway system connecting different continents. Just as highways transport goods and people between cities, the transatlantic trade route facilitated the movement of resources and people across vast distances.

Related terms

Mercantilism: Mercantilism is an economic theory that promoted government regulations on international trade in order to increase a nation's wealth. It played a significant role in shaping transatlantic trade policies.

Middle Passage: The Middle Passage was the brutal journey enslaved Africans were forced to take across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the transatlantic slave trade. It had profound impacts on both African and American societies.

Triangular Trade: Triangular trade refers to a pattern of commerce during which goods were exchanged between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This triangular system formed one aspect of transatlantic trade networks.