The Great Triangle Trade

After Christopher Columbus and his crew landed on the islands of west Indies, in 1492 to be precise, and thereafter on the mainland of the Americas (North and south America), history begun to take someone else turn. The nations of Europe woke up to a new reality. We refer here to the nations of Europe because all other areas elsewhere had not woken up to such an idea before, by this time. History books also mention that these other nations that were still asleep attributed their slumber to the reason that they had been complicated in adventure without realizing its implications. Some communities from Asia and Africa had not realized their role and place on this globe.

The next five hundred years saw the world move towards trade, into the formation of colonies and empires, and an eventual crawl into liberty.

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA

The onset of the 16th century (that is from 1500 onwards) saw the nations of Europe manufacture themselves along such lines as briefly hinted above. The Portuguese, the Spaniards, the French, the Dutch, the Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) all moved steadfast to take their share, role and place in this gently evolving new life set up.

Basing on their adventure, trade was born. Such trade of unprecedented size. The Portuguese endeavored to observe the far east - a mission that witnessed their trip hop via the cape of "Good Hope" in south Africa. At this Cape, a flame of hope was often rekindled in these sailors. A hope of ultimate exploration to the east of the Indian ocean. Hence the cape of "Good Hope".

The Spaniards went westwards to the west Indies and on to the south America The English speaking habitancy took a westward route that landed them at the west Indies and on to the mainland of north America

In all of the areas these spontaneous explorers went to, they instinctively and or intentionally heralded and finally indoctrinated their stronghold establishments and settlements which later on came to be known as colonies.

Colonies were hitherto established along the west African coast; the west Indies; the south America's main land; and the north American mainland. The colonies proved to be very significant for these European countries. These ultimate colonies acted as new grounds for the colonial masters and or their allies could visit and where possible, settle. Also acting as tourist destinations or hamlet habitats, these colonies also produced abundant raw reserved supply materials for the otherwise already established industries back in Europe For the colonies that dealt in crops such as cotton, sugar cane, sisal, and tobacco plantations, the west African region offered free labor in the form of slaves.

Ships could load man-made goods from European countries to take them to their colonies in change for the raw reserved supply materials. The raw materials could then be used in the manufacturing processes in Europe The ships came to take on a exact route that took them from Europe then on to west African coast; then across the Atlantic ocean to the west (the west Indies and the Americas)...then onwards northwards back to Europe. This route virtually forms a triangle, which finally came to famously be referred to as the Great Triangle Trade Route. The trade transactions in this trade were also collectively known as The Mercantile System, or also great known as Mercantilism.

The Great Triangle Trade

MISSIONS TRIPS TO AFRICA