When the Atlantic slave trade began in the 16th century, it began a new era of agriculture, trade, economic strength, and discrimination. He has touched the lives of many millions of people in both positive and negative ways. Through slaves, plantation owners were able to increase their labor rate and income to build stronger economies for their home countries. The slaves themselves were emotionally traumatized when they were separated from their families to work for cruel owners, and many of their own people died alongside them. Discrimination and the concept of white superiority began and continues today, along with the realization that it is okay for human beings to be used as commodities. The triangular trade involving the buying and selling of slaves not only affected the people living during that time, such as owners and slaves, but affected the world as a whole as it still faces discrimination and slavery today. The Atlantic Slave Trade What took place over 350 years affected those involved on both sides of that period. Slave owners in t...