Transatlantic Sea Routes

Timeline

1. 1492–1500Canary Islands to the Caribbean Sea · Caribbean SeaColumbus and subsequent voyages established the basic route from Iberia via the Canary Islands across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, verifying monsoon and ocean-current patterns and laying the foundation for regular voyages.
2. 1521–1530Seville–Havana–Veracruz route · Gulf of MexicoBy the 1520s the transatlantic routes had regular silver fleets organized by the Casa de Contratación, linking Seville, Caribbean transshipment ports, and colonies such as Mexico and Peru, carrying people, goods, and silver in both directions.
3. c. 1520–1600Europe–Africa–Americas triangular routes · AmericasThe transatlantic network gradually incorporated supply stops on the West African coast and the transport of forced laborers, forming a triangular trade pattern of goods and population flows between Europe, Africa, and the Americas that profoundly reshaped societies on both sides of the Atlantic.