Question: The transatlantic slave trade was most heavily influenced by which economic system?

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:02:14 +0000

The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Most Heavily Influenced by Mercantilism The transatlantic slave trade, a brutal and transformative period in world history, was profoundly shaped by a dominant economic system of the time: mercantilism. While the trade involved complex political, social, and human dimensions, mercantilism provided the ideological and economic framework that fueled its growth, organization, and profitability from the 15th to the 19th centuries. ### What Was Mercantilism? Mercantilism emerged in Europe during the 16th to 18th centuries as the guiding economic theory behind colonial expansion and global trade. At its core, mercantilism emphasized the idea that national wealth and power were best served by accumulating precious metals, maintaining a favorable balance of trade, and controlling colonies to supply raw materials and serve as exclusive markets for manufactured goods.