The movement of the industry to the Atlantic islands occurred when European demand was probably growing. Individual entrepreneurs were encouraged to establish sugar-cane (and other) plantations on the Atlantic islands, manned with African slaves and destined to produce sugar for Portugal and other European markets, because their presence safeguarded the extension of Portuguese trade routes around Africa and toward the Orient:
I was aware of sugar being one catalyst for plantation /enslavement expansion in the Mediterranean, but was not aware that it was the primary driving force → though upon further contemplation it does make sense
