Triangular trade

Triangular trade refers to a historical economic system that involved trade between three ports or regions. This system was prevalent during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in the Atlantic region. The Atlantic slave trade is one of the most well-known examples of triangular trade.

Overview

Triangular trade typically involves a three-step journey. The journey begins from the home country, where goods are shipped to a second region or country. From there, other goods are transported to a third region or country, and finally, goods from the third region are brought back to the home country.

Stages of Triangular Trade

The stages of triangular trade can be broadly classified into three:

1. The Outward Passage: This stage involves the journey from the home country to the first region. The goods transported during this stage typically include items like guns, cloth, and beer.
2. The Middle Passage: This stage involves the journey from the first region to the second. This is the most infamous stage of the triangular trade, as it often involved the transportation of slaves from Africa to the Americas.
3. The Homeward Passage: This stage involves the journey back to the home country. The goods transported during this stage typically include items like sugar, tobacco, and cotton, which were produced using slave labor in the Americas.

Impact of Triangular Trade

Triangular trade had a significant impact on the economies of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It led to the growth of the slave trade, the development of plantation economies in the Americas, and the expansion of European colonial powers. However, it also resulted in the exploitation and suffering of millions of African slaves.

Criticism and Controversy

The triangular trade system has been widely criticized for its role in promoting and sustaining the slave trade. Many historians argue that the system was inherently exploitative and inhumane, as it treated human beings as commodities to be bought and sold for profit.

See Also

• Atlantic slave trade
• Middle Passage
• Colonialism
• Slavery