The Middle Passage refers to the transatlantic journey that enslaved Africans were forced to endure as they were transported to the Americas as part of the Atlantic slave trade. This horrific voyage was a central part of the broader triangular trade system that developed in the 16th to 19th centuries.
The Middle Passage began after enslaved individuals were captured in Africa, usually through raids or slave trading expeditions. These captured individuals were often sold to European traders at coastal forts or trading posts. Once captured and sold, enslaved people were held in terrible conditions in dungeons or barracoons (holding areas) until they could be loaded onto ships.
The actual journey across the Atlantic could last from a few weeks to several months, depending on various factors, including weather conditions and the specific route taken. During this passage, the enslaved people were packed tightly into the ships, often in appalling conditions. They were shackled, offered minimal food and water, and lived in their own feces, leading to high mortality rates due to disease, malnutrition, and mistreatment.
The Middle Passage was a brutal and dehumanizing experience, and it played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining the systems of slavery in the Americas, where the labor of enslaved Africans was exploited for agricultural and economic gain.