The movement of goods and people in which enslaved people were sold from Africa, raw goods were sold back to Europe, and finished goods were exported to Africa and the colonies is commonly referred to as the transatlantic slave trade. This trade played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas and the growth of European economies, as well as the exploitation of millions of enslaved people from Africa. The transatlantic slave trade was abolished in the 19th century, but its legacy continues to impact the global economy and societies today.