Turning people into slaves

Slaves and the slave trade have always been around, but in the 16th to 19th centuries a new, extensive form of slave trade took place. Slaves were transported in vast numbers from Africa to the American continent, as part of the so-called triangular trade.

Triangular trade

The triangular trade was an enterprise where the Europeans sailed to Africa to collect new slaves, who were then transported to the plantations in America and the Caribbean. From there, goods were transported back to Europe, whereupon the Europeans sailed to Africa again to pick up more slaves. Basically, in a triangle.