OverviewHow did the Atlantic System influence Europe, Africa, and the Americas? (The Earth and Its Peoples, 500) The movement of goods, people and wealth in the late 17th and 18th centuries permanently changed societies on the continents of Europe, Africa, North and South America, thus increasing the reach of globalization around the world. modern age. The most influential element on this movement was what is sometimes called “The Atlantic Circuit,” a trading triangle between Western Europe, West Africa, and the West Indies. From this circuit came the rapid growth of the Atlantic slave trade, which not only created multiple agricultural industries, but significantly changed the economies of all the countries involved. Agricultural industries, combined with further colonization, transformed the landscape of the Americas and influenced diets around the world. Capitalist systems and mercantilist policies provided structure to trade and allowed both private investors and nations to profit from it. These systems laid the foundation for future economies by creating new levels of power and interaction between the private and public sectors and, in the process, generating many successes and failures. One of the system's most significant catalysts was the growth of Atlantic slavery. trade. The success of sugar plantations in the West Indies and colonial expansion in South America would not have been possible without the labor of African slaves. Although African slaves were expensive, equivalent to about $6.5 thousand in today's currency, compared to natives or indentured servants from Europe, they were seen as a better investment. The mercantilist policies of European states such as England and the Netherlands, the numerous edicts issued during his time, strengthened the domestic economy and managed to grow foreign trade. The main purpose behind his interests was competition with the Dutch, who had secured many commercial interests in the East and West, and whose naval forces dwarfed those of the French. Originally, Colbert had sought to ally himself with the English against the Dutch, however, in the establishment of these policies the two nations became enduring rivals. Works Cited Original figure: Bulliet et al. «The Earth and its peoples». Houghton Mifflin Company. 2005.Conversion to Modern Value: Lawrence H. Officer and Samuel H. Williamson. « Purchasing Power of Money in the United States from 1774 to 2010 » Measuring value. 2011.Conversion to USD: Citibank, NA via Google. http://www.google.com/search?q=4000+pounds+in+usd. Retrieved September 2011.