The historical impact of the Atlantic slave trade on world economies was profound, as it facilitated the exchange of goods and workforce across the Atlantic. Enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas to work on plantations, greatly enriching European powers and contributing to the triangular trade system. This trade led to the profound economic growth of colonies and the backed wealth of European nations. However, the slave trade also had devastating social and cultural consequences, including the disruption of African societies and the perpetuation of systemic racism that continues to affect contemporary societies.