Trans-Atlantic trade facts for kids

Trans-Atlantic trade is a way of connecting economies across the Atlantic Ocean. It links countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with Europe. This trade mainly happened in the 1800s and 1900s. It involved large companies called transnational corporations.

This type of trade is different from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The slave trade was about buying and selling people. Trans-Atlantic trade, however, is about goods and money.

What is Trans-Atlantic Trade?

Trans-Atlantic trade means that different parts of the world started working together more closely. European countries bought raw materials from other continents. These materials included things like cotton, minerals, or wood. Then, European factories turned them into finished products.

How Did Goods Move?

After products were made in Europe, they were sent back across the ocean. Companies based in developing countries helped to sell these products. They created ways to distribute them to many people. This made it easier for European goods to reach markets far away.

Impact on Old Trade Routes

This new way of trading changed a lot of things. It made some older, famous trade routes less important. For example, the Silk Road in Asia used to be a very busy route. It connected the East and West for centuries. The Trans-Saharan trade routes in Africa were also very active. They linked different parts of Africa. But with the rise of Trans-Atlantic trade, these older routes saw less activity.