The transatlantic slave trade was one of the earliest international trade networks. It was organized as follows:
1) Europe to Africa
Merchants from Western Europe would load weapons, gunpowder, pearls, textiles, and other manufactured goods into ships. The ships would set sail to Africa where the merchants would exchange the goods for slaves.
2) Africa to America
Once the European merchants received the slaves, they would sail across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas and go sell the slaves to farmers for agricultural produce.
3) America to Europe
The merchants would then return with the agricultural produce to Europe and sell it to the locals.
Who Controlled Each Aspect?
The Europeans controlled most of the trading on the transatlantic slave trade. Most of their ships were used to transport the slaves and goods. However, the African elites and American farmers and traders also controlled the exchange of goods. The African elites ensured that the slaves were always available when the Europeans arrived, while the American entrepreneurs guaranteed the availability of agricultural products.
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