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'''Triangular trade''' was a trans-Atlantic trade route used by European powers that had three parts or "sides" to the "triangle":  [[Africa]] to the Americas to transport [[slave]]s, the Americas to Europe to transport raw materials, and Europe to Africa to transport finished goods for sale.  The most common destination for slave traffic were islands in the Caribbean and Portuguese Brazil.

'''Triangular trade''' was a trans-Atlantic trade route used by European powers that had three parts or "sides" to the "triangle":  [[Africa]] to the Americas to transport [[slave]]s, the Americas to Europe to transport raw materials, and Europe to Africa to transport finished goods for sale.  The most common destination for slave traffic were islands in the Caribbean and Portuguese Brazil.

It was developed by the Portuguese in the 16th century, which they called ''volta do mar''.  Later, other powers such as Britain, Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, and other maritime nations of Europe followed.  To a lesser degree, it was used by Colonial America.

The use of maritime winds in a sweeping pattern was first developed by the Portuguese in the 16th century, which they called ''volta do mar'', the use of African slave labor was also established by Portugal.

 

According to research provided by [[Emory University]]<ref>[https://slavevoyages.org/assessment/estimates Slave Voyages], Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Estimates</ref>, an estimated 12.5 million slaves were transported from Africa to colonies in North and South America.  The top five nations for trafficking in slaves from Africa were Portugal, Great Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

 

! scope="col" | France

| 1,061,524|| 5,848,266|| 3,259,441|| 554,336|| 305,326|| 1,381,404|| 111,040

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

[[Image:Triangle trade2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An example of revisionist imagery.  American involvement in this trade with respect to slaves was much less than is often stated]]

[[Image:Triangle trade2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An example of revisionist imagery.  American involvement in this trade with respect to slaves was much less than is often stated]]

It is disputed whether this trade really occurred in a "triangle", and there are good reasons to be skeptical.  For example, there was no significant market in Africa for finished goods.  The term "triangular trade" itself was not used contemporaneously with the trade.

It is disputed whether this trade really occurred in a "triangle", and there are good reasons to be skeptical.  For example, there was no significant market in Africa for finished goods.  The term "triangular trade" itself was not used contemporaneously with the trade.<ref>[http://www.jstor.org/stable/1918599 The Making of the Triangular Trade Myth], by Gilman M Ostrander - JSTOR</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Triangular trade in the 21st century]]

*[[Triangular trade in the 21st century]]

==Further reading==

==References==

* Ostrander,  Gilman M. "The Making of the Triangular Trade Myth", ''William and Mary Quarterly'', 30 (1973), 635-44. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1918599  in JSTOR]

 

==External links==

* [https://slavevoyages.org Slave Voyages], documents

[[Category:Economic History]]

[[Category:Economic History]]

[[Category:Slavery]]

[[Category:Slavery]]

[[Category:Colonial America]]

[[Category:Colonial America]]