History The Triangular Trade Questions
The Middle Passage refers to the second leg of the Triangular Trade, which involved the transportation of enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas. It was called the Middle Passage because it was the middle part of the triangular route taken by European ships. The Middle Passage was a horrific and brutal journey that lasted several weeks or even months, during which enslaved Africans were packed tightly into the ships' cargo holds under inhumane conditions. They endured overcrowding, lack of sanitation, disease, malnutrition, and extreme physical and psychological abuse. Many enslaved Africans did not survive the Middle Passage, and it is estimated that millions died during this journey. The Middle Passage was significant in the Triangular Trade as it provided the labor force needed for the plantations and mines in the Americas, contributing to the economic prosperity of European colonial powers. It also had a profound impact on the African continent, as it led to the depopulation of certain regions and the disruption of African societies and cultures.