The Middle PassageThe ocean route used to transport enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. refers to one of the three routes of the Trade Triangle. Along this route, African slaves were transported to the New World as part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. As such, the Middle Passage is notorious for the terrible conditions and treatment that the African slaves were subjected to as they were forced across the Atlantic Ocean by European slave traders. In all, slave ships made the journey across the Atlantic from the 16th until the 19th centuries.
Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade began in the 16th century, and reached its peak in the 18th century. It finally concluded near the end of the 19th century. During the time of the Atlantic Slave Trade, approximately 12 million Africans were put on slave ships, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and sold into slavery. Of this 12 million, approximately 388,000 were transported to the United States, which means that about 3% of all African slaves from the Atlantic Slave Trade were brought to America. This process first began in the early colonies of America but continued well into the 19th century. In fact, African slavery in the United States became an important feature of early America. The early trade in slaves proved so profitable for slave owners in the New World that the practice expanded in 18th and 19th centuries.
FactsthatCrunchAbout how many Africans were forced onto slave ships during the Atlantic Slave Trade, and where were most of them taken?
About 12 million Africans were forced onto slave ships and carried across the Atlantic Ocean between the 1500s and the 1800s. Most were taken to Brazil and the Caribbean to work on sugar plantations. About 388,000, roughly 3 percent, were taken directly to the land that became the United States.
Trade Triangle
As stated above, the Middle Passage was a major route of the Trade Triangle. The Trade TriangleA set of three Atlantic trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas that exchanged goods, raw materials, and enslaved people. is the term used by historians to refer to the form of trade that occurred across the Atlantic Ocean during much of the Age of Exploration and the years that followed. In general, it was a set of three routes that saw goods and people travel between Europe, Africa and the Americas. European traders exported manufactured goods (metal tools, textiles, tobacco, beads, etc.) to the societies of west coast Africa in exchange for African slaves. The European goods were manufactured in European factories and shops.
Next, the African slaves were put aboard European slave ships and taken to the Americas to be sold for huge profits. Here the slaves would be put to work on plantations in order to harvest raw materials. This journey from Africa to the Americas was referred to as the ‘Middle Passage’.
The final stage of the Trade Triangle involved European traders taking the harvested raw materials from the plantations back to Europe where they were processed into goods in European factories. The most notable of these raw materials included: sugar, cotton, coffee, metals, and tobacco. In general, the Trade Triangle formed a cycle that saw raw materials, manufactured goods, and people transported all across the Atlantic Ocean. As stated previously, the route from Africa to the Americas was commonly known as the Middle Passage.
Most of the slaves from Africa were taken by the European slave ships along the west coast of Africa. However, it should be noted that Africa played an active role in the Atlantic Slave Trade. For instance, African societies along the western coast often captured and enslaved other Africans from the interior of the continent. Then, the western societies would sell or trade the captured slaves to European traders along the coast.
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Conditions of the Middle Passage
While the Middle Passage was an important economic trade route, it is also known for the terrible conditions aboard the slave ships that shipped African slaves to the New World. One of the key features that made traveling the Middle Passage so difficult was the length of the route and the time it took for slave ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean. For example, in the 16th century it is estimated that the journey took up to six months. This was especially impacted by the weather in the Atlantic Ocean at the time. With that said, it should be noted that by the 19th century, most slave ships were able to make the journey in about six weeks. Regardless, the length of the Middle Passage was difficult for the slaves aboard the ships, since they generally lacked basic medical attention, nutritious meals and sanitary conditions. In fact, many of the slaves did not survive the voyage, and many others became sick along the way.
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, there were many elements that made the Middle Passage so terrible for the African slaves. For instance, while on board the slave ships, the slaves were commonly chained together and held in very small spaces in the ship’s hullThe main body of a ship, below deck, where enslaved people were chained and confined during the voyage.. In fact, on some slave ships, the slaves were given so little space that they could only lie down. For instance, the Brookes Print famously showed the cramped conditions faced by the slaves. In fact, some ships famously overcrowded the slaves on the ships. For example, the Brookes slave ship from Britain was legally allowed to hold 454 slaves, but there is evidence that it carried as many as 740 slaves on some trips. What made this situation even worse was the terrible smell of the slave quarters. For instance, the tropical heat and the smell of human waste and sweat, made the slave quarters nearly unbearable for the slaves.
This is best evidenced by Olaudah Equiano. Olaudah Equiano was enslaved as a child in western Africa and shipped to the Caribbean. He later gained his freedom and wrote and published an autobiography, titled ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’, which discussed his experiences aboard the slave ships on the Middle Passage. For instance, Equiano wrote the following about the terrible heat and smell aboard the slave ship:
“The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship’s cargo were confined together, it became absolutely [deadly]. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.”
While the slaves were sometimes allowed to come on deck to get fresh air, they were mostly kept chained below. This was especially true when a slave attempted to escape by jumping overboard into the ocean. This meant death for the slaves, as they often could not swim or were weighted down by shacklesMetal restraints locked around the ankles of enslaved people, which weighed them down and prevented escape. on their ankles. The slave traders were looking to make as much profit as possible, thus losing slaves into the ocean was a loss of potential profits. Olaudah Equiano discussed witnessing this in his own life in ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’. For example, he stated the following:
“One day, when we had a smooth sea, and a moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen, who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings, and jumped into the sea: immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of irons, also followed their example; and I believe many more would soon have done the same, if they had not been prevented by the ship’s crew, who were instantly alarmed.”
Beyond the cramped and hot conditions, the slaves also suffered due to a lack of quality food. For instance, the long journey of the Middle Passage meant there were very little food options that could be carried on the ships. As such, the voyage was difficult for even the slave traders. This meant that most of the food on the slave ships was saved for the crew of the ship and the slaves were provided with very little to eat. In fact, historians believe that the most common food items for slaves during the Middle Passage were beans, corn, rice and yams. Also, it is believed that slaves were only fed once every day or two. Again, Olaudah Equiano talked about the issue of food in his famous ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’. In it he stated:
“One day [the crew of the ship] had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on the deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for some as well we could, but in vain; and some of my countrymen, being pressed by hunger, took an opportunity, when they thought no one saw them, of trying to get a little privately; but they were discovered, and the attempt procured them some very severe floggingsSevere beatings used by the ship’s crew to punish enslaved people who tried to take food or resist..”
The poor conditions that the slaves were forced to endure during the Middle Passage highlight why the trip was so terrible and deadly for the slaves. For instance, many slaves died along the route from the spread of deadly disease, including: dysenteryA deadly intestinal disease that spread easily among enslaved people packed into the unsanitary conditions of slave ships., measles, scurvyA disease caused by lack of vitamins, common among enslaved people who were given little or no nutritious food during the voyage., and smallpox. Disease spread easily throughout the slaves on the ships due to poor hygiene and close quarters of the slaves. As stated previously, the ships were overcrowded and the slaves were forced to endure very cramped conditions during the Middle Passage.
The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship's cargo were confined together, it became absolutely [deadly]. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us.
Key Vocabulary
Middle Passage
Trade Triangle
Hull
Dysentery
Scurvy
Shackles
Floggings
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Middle Passage?
The Middle Passage was the ocean route that carried enslaved Africans to the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. It was one of the three legs of the Trade Triangle linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Slave ships made this crossing from the 16th until the 19th centuries. The route is remembered for the brutal conditions that enslaved people suffered aboard the ships.
How long did the Middle Passage take?
In the 16th century the crossing could take up to six months, depending heavily on the weather. By the 19th century, faster ships made the trip in about six weeks. The long time at sea was deadly because enslaved people lacked food, medicine, and clean conditions. Many did not survive the journey, and many others fell sick along the way.
How many Africans were taken across the Atlantic?
About 12 million Africans were loaded onto slave ships and sold into slavery during the Atlantic Slave Trade. Of that total, roughly 388,000 were brought to the United States, which is about 3 percent. Most of the others were carried to the Caribbean and South America to work on plantations. The trade began in the 16th century and ended near the close of the 19th century.
Why were conditions on the slave ships so terrible?
Enslaved people were chained together and packed into tiny spaces in the ship’s hull. On some ships they had so little room that they could only lie down. Tropical heat, human waste, and sweat made the slave quarters almost unbearable. Disease spread easily, and illnesses like dysentery, measles, scurvy, and smallpox killed many people during the voyage.
Who was Olaudah Equiano?
Olaudah Equiano was a man who was enslaved as a child in western Africa and shipped to the Caribbean. He later gained his freedom and published an autobiography in 1789. In it he described the stench, the heat, and the hunger he saw aboard a slave ship. His account is one of the few firsthand records of the Middle Passage.
What was the Brookes Print?
The Brookes Print was a famous diagram showing how enslaved people were packed onto the British slave ship Brookes. The ship was legally allowed to carry 454 people, but evidence shows it sometimes held as many as 740. The image revealed the cramped conditions to the public. It became a powerful tool for people working to end the slave trade.
Cite This Article
To cite this article as a source, use one of the formats below.
MLA: Beck, Elias. “Middle Passage of the Atlantic Slave Trade: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch, 23 October 2026, https://historycrunch.com/middle-passage-of-the-atlantic-slave-trade/.
APA: Beck, E. (2026). Middle Passage of the Atlantic Slave Trade: A Detailed Summary. HistoryCrunch. https://historycrunch.com/middle-passage-of-the-atlantic-slave-trade/
Chicago: Beck, Elias. “Middle Passage of the Atlantic Slave Trade: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch. October 23, 2026. https://historycrunch.com/middle-passage-of-the-atlantic-slave-trade/
Sources
- Gilder Lehrman Institute
- Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration.
- Fordham Modern History Sourcebook
