What was the purpose of the Atlantic Slave Trade?

There wasn't a real benifit looking back but when it was around people were in it for the goods that they got for trading the slaves, like sugar for the british and guns for the africans plus workers "slaves" for the americans.

There was a benefit. A benefit for the Europeans who took part and for their Economies as well as their descendants. Slaves were used to build infrastructure, in commercial farms, in European house-holds as servants, maids, cooks, nannies etc. There was a real benefit for Europeans but none for the slaves. Tate and Lyle and other Companies benefited directly from the Trade and still do today. So did Lloyds TSB who were under-writers for the slave ships. There was trade among Europeans and local people but as the demand grew Europeans resorted to violence to get the slaves. Slavery in itself is common in Africa but nothing as cruel and inhumane as the Europeans and Capitalism made it. European Scienctists classified Africans as sub-human and that was justification enough for such brutal behaviour towards them. However, since then Science has re-adjusted it's view...