<P> The best - known triangular trading system is the transatlantic slave trade , that operated from the late 16th to early 19th centuries , carrying slaves , cash crops , and manufactured goods between West Africa , Caribbean or American colonies and the European colonial powers , with the northern colonies of British North America , especially New England , sometimes taking over the role of Europe . The use of African slaves was fundamental to growing colonial cash crops , which were exported to Europe . European goods , in turn , were used to purchase African slaves , who were then brought on the sea lane west from Africa to the Americas , the so - called Middle Passage . Despite being driven primarily by economic needs , Europeans sometimes had a religious justification for their actions . In 1452 , for instance , Pope Nicholas V , in the Dum Diversas , granted to the kings of Spain and Portugal `` full and free permission to invade , search out , capture , and subjugate the Saracens ( Muslims ) and pagans and any other unbelievers ... and to reduce their persons into perpetual slavery . '' </P>
<P> The best - known triangular trading system is the transatlantic slave trade , that operated from the late 16th to early 19th centuries , carrying slaves , cash crops , and manufactured goods between West Africa , Caribbean or American colonies and the European colonial powers , with the northern colonies of British North America , especially New England , sometimes taking over the role of Europe . The use of African slaves was fundamental to growing colonial cash crops , which were exported to Europe . European goods , in turn , were used to purchase African slaves , who were then brought on the sea lane west from Africa to the Americas , the so - called Middle Passage . Despite being driven primarily by economic needs , Europeans sometimes had a religious justification for their actions . In 1452 , for instance , Pope Nicholas V , in the Dum Diversas , granted to the kings of Spain and Portugal `` full and free permission to invade , search out , capture , and subjugate the Saracens ( Muslims ) and pagans and any other unbelievers ... and to reduce their persons into perpetual slavery . '' </P>
what was traded along the triangular trade route
what was traded along the triangular trade route
slaves cash crops manufactured goods
slaves cash crops manufactured goods