The Atlantic economy refers to the economic interactions and trade that occurred between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, particularly during the 16th to 19th centuries. This system was characterized by the exchange of goods such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton from the Americas, while Europe supplied manufactured goods and Africa provided enslaved labor through the transatlantic slave trade. This interconnected economy significantly influenced the development of the regions involved. The wealth generated from the Atlantic economy contributed to the rise of European powers, while also leading to profound social and economic changes in colonial America and West Africa.