AP 4.6 Maritime Empires Develop Atlantic Slave Trade

Atlantic System

Became the economic network of trading links in the Atlantic after 1500, moving goods, wealth and people around the Atlantic Basin.

Tobacco

A cash crop that became a significant export from the Americas to Europe, driving economic growth and demand in the Atlantic System

Replaced by sugar in West Indies when Dutch kicked out of Brazil.

Chartered Companies

Royal business monopolies granted to private investors by King of England to trade and colonize in specific regions, playing a key role in the Atlantic economy.

Why did Chartered Companies succeed?

By using private companies, the English found a faster and more efficient way to claim land in New World and soon caught up to Spanish and Portuguese land claims

• Paid an annual fee to King of England and received protection of Royal Navy

British East India Company

most infamous chartered co

Dutch West India Company

• A joint stock trading company

• Protected by the Dutch Navy

• By 1635 seized 1000 miles of sugar regions in Northern Brazil

• Seized parts of Africa from Portuguese

• Shipped slaves to Brazil from West Africa 

• Paid huge dividends to investors

• Expansion of sugar plantations causes sharp increase in slave trade.

• Sugar replaces tobacco in region.

Fluyt Ships

Small fast ships developed and used by Dutch.

French and English Expansion