Final answer:
During the twelfth century, European investors moved their sugar plantations to new locations primarily due to the increasing demand for sugar and the profitability of the sugar trade. They relied on enslaved labor from West Africa to meet the labor demands of the expanding sugar industry. This led to the establishment of large plantations in the Caribbean islands and Brazil.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the twelfth century, European investors moved their sugar plantations to new locations primarily due to the increasing demand for sugar. The introduction of sugarcane as a cash crop made sugar production highly profitable, leading to the need for larger plantations and a controllable workforce.
As sugar became an essential commodity, European merchants designed a lucrative system of production and consumption, relying on enslaved labor from West Africa. The profitability of the sugar trade motivated investors to expand their plantations and move them to more fertile areas, such as the Caribbean islands and Brazil.