During which centuries did the development of plantation cash cropping, such as sugar and tobacco, occur?

The development of plantation cash cropping, particularly for crops like sugar and tobacco, primarily occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries. This period was marked by European colonial expansion, where the establishment of plantations became a lucrative economic strategy to meet the growing demand for these cash crops in Europe. The use of enslaved labor was integral to this system, especially in the Caribbean and parts of the Americas, which allowed for the mass production of sugar and tobacco.

During this time, European powers such as Spain, Portugal, and later England, established extensive plantation economies that relied heavily on the labor of enslaved Africans. The rise in the transatlantic slave trade directly correlated with the plantation systems, as demand for labor to cultivate these crops surged. Notably, the developments in agricultural practices and technologies during this century further facilitated the expansion of these enterprises, paving the way for their significant economic impact in global trade.

The other centuries listed either precede or follow the primary boom period. The 12th and 13th centuries predate the era of plantation economies, while the 14th and 15th centuries witnessed changes leading up to the age of exploration, but not the full-fledged development of plantation cash crops. The 18th and