Tag: triangualar trade

Global Shipping Patterns Then and Now

Ships tracks in black, plotted on a white background, show the outlines of the continents and the predominant tracks on the trade winds. Image and caption from Sapping Attention.
Ships tracks in black, plotted on a white background, show the outlines of the continents and the predominant tracks on the trade winds. Image and caption from Sapping Attention.

For an interesting historical contrast — that highlights the change from wind to engine powered ships and the opening of the Panama and Suez canals — above is Ben Schmidt’s image created from the log books of U.S. ships in the 19th century, while below is a figure by Ben Halpern showing modern shipping patterns.

This map shows the frequency of shipping traffic along shipping routes around the world, ranging from low (blue) to high (red). Image and caption from SeaWeb.
This map shows the frequency of shipping traffic along shipping routes around the world, ranging from low (blue) to high (red). Image and caption from SeaWeb.

The first image also clearly shows the triangular trade routes between the Americas, Europe and Africa.

Schmidt also has some wonderful videos showing, among other things, the routes of whaling ships that are pushed farther and farther out as they drive whale populations toward extinction.