Question

Describe how the triangular slave trade was carried out?

Answer 1

Historically the particular routes were also shaped by the powerful influence of winds and currents during the age of sail. For example, from the main trading nations of Western Europe it was much easier to sail westwards after first going south of 30 N latitude and reaching the so-called "trade winds"; thus arriving in the Caribbean rather than going straight west to the North American mainland. Returning from North America, it is easiest to follow the Gulf Stream in a northeasterly direction using the westerlies. A similar triangle to this, called the volta do mar was already being used by the Portuguese, before Christopher Columbus' voyage, to sail to the Canary Islands and the Azores. Columbus simply expanded the triangle outwards, and his route became the main way for Europeans to reach, and return from, the Americas.

Answer 2

The colonies in Carribean were important place where commodities like tobacco, indigo and sugar were supplied. Europeans were reluctant to go to far places for work. There was a shortage of labour in the distant places. The triangular slave trade solved this problem.

Triangular slave trade was between Europe, Africa and America. It began in the 17th century. From ports, French merchants sailed to coasts of Africa. They bought slave from there from chieftains and sailed to America. The journey was a 3-month journey. The slaves were sold to plantation owners in Carribean. This met the demands in Europe.