What was a primary method of economic exploitation used by colonial powers during the colonial period?

A primary method of economic exploitation used by colonial powers during the colonial period was the extraction of resources. Colonial powers would take valuable materials, like gold, silver, and spices, from the lands they controlled, often without giving fair payment to local people. They also established plantations and farms where they forced local populations or imported enslaved individuals to work under harsh conditions for little or no pay. For example, in the Caribbean, European countries set up sugar plantations that relied on enslaved labor, leading to massive profits for the colonizers while the workers suffered. This system not only enriched the colonial powers but also disrupted local economies and cultures.