Triangular trade

The common route established by European Powers

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 slaves, the Americas to Europe to transport raw materials, and Europe to Africa to transport finished goods for sale.

It was developed by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later used by Britain, Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, and the other maritime nations of Europe. To a lesser degree, it was used by Colonial America.

Controversy

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.

See also

• African slave trade
• Triangular trade in the 21st century

Further reading

• Ostrander, Gilman M. "The Making of the Triangular Trade Myth", William and Mary Quarterly, 30 (1973), 635-44. in JSTOR