The trade system was called trans-Atlantic trade or the triangular trade. Why triangular? Well, it's simply because of the geographic set-up of Europe, West Africa and South America. In this trading system, the starting point was in Africa, particularly western Africa. South Americans used to come for slaves in exchange for gold and other precious things. North & West Africa Banyans gave away captured slaves readily, and these slaves were then shipped to South America where they were used to work on large plantations. The farm produce in these plantations was processed and manufactured and some exported to Europe for processing. The same finished products were brought back to western Africa for sale in exchange for slaves and other minerals. The cycle continued following the triangular route until the end of the slave trade.
