Editing Atlantic Ocean (section)

== Human history ==
Communities around the Atlantic used coastal waters for fishing and local navigation long before regular transoceanic voyages developed. Norse sailors crossed the northern Atlantic and established settlements in Greenland. They also reached North America around the beginning of the 11th century.

European voyages across the Atlantic increased during the late 15th century. Maritime routes connected Europe with the Americas and the western coast of Africa. European states established colonies and used Atlantic shipping to move troops and supplies. The transatlantic slave trade forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas and became a central part of colonial plantation economies.

During the 19th century, steam propulsion shortened crossing times and made scheduled passenger services more reliable. Large migrations crossed the ocean toward the Americas. Submarine telegraph cables allowed messages to travel between continents without waiting for ships.

The Atlantic became a major military theatre during both world wars. Naval forces protected merchant convoys carrying personnel and supplies between North America and Europe. German submarines attempted to interrupt this traffic during the [[First World War]] and the [[Second World War]]. Control of Atlantic routes remained necessary for the movement of Allied forces into Europe.