The triangular trade most commonly refers to the trade network that emerged in the 16th to 19th centuries, primarily involving trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This trade system typically focused on the following components:
- Trade between Africa, the Americas, and Europe focused on sugar and enslaved people.
In this system, enslaved people were transported from Africa to the Americas (Middle Passage), where they were forced to work on plantations producing sugar, tobacco, and other commodities. These goods were then transported to Europe, generating significant profits, which in turn funded the purchase of more enslaved people from Africa.
So, the correct understanding of the triangular trade as per your options is the second one: "Trade between Africa, the Americas, and Europe focused on sugar and enslaved people."