Final answer:
Trade with Western Europe increased due to the colonies established by European powers, where the Atlantic Trade Triangle and the slave trade played pivotal roles in exchanging goods, resources, and labor between Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increased trade with Western Europe was heavily influenced by the establishment of colonies around the world, including the American colonies, African colonies, South American colonies, and Caribbean colonies. These colonies played a critical role in mercantilism, a system where the colonies provided raw materials to their respective European mother countries, which in turn sent back manufactured goods. The Atlantic Trade Triangle was a significant part of this system, moving goods—including slaves from Africa, raw materials from the Americas, and manufactured goods from Europe—around the Atlantic.
The slave trade, controlled by European powers like Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands, flourished in this period, leading to exceptional economic growth in Western Europe and the American colonies. The slave trade significantly impacted West Africa, altering local economies and societies. In the Caribbean, European powers competed for control of the islands to capitalize on the lucrative sugar trade and other resources.