The events that occurred during the Middle Passage or “middle-leg” were some of the most inhumane happenings in all of history. On a search for “the rest of the world,” Christopher Columbus unintentionally opened a route for Europeans to reach what would soon become African slaves. Between 1450 and 1809, Africans were transported by Atlantic Slave Traders from factories to the Americas for labor. These Slave Traders transported Africans by ships which were called “Slave Ships” with only an economic view in mind. These African passengers were treated as nothing less than cargo as their human bodies were stripped past their dignity. African slaves who endured the Middle Passage were victims of disease, abuse, and even death. If an enslaved African
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The entire triangular voyage could ideally take twelve months or longer depending on the weather. Once it was an African’s turn to board the Slave Ship, a doctor would inspect each slave before they were purchased from the Atlantic Slave Traders. They were examined carefully in order to determine which would most likely survive the voyage. During the beginning of the Middle Passage and sixteenth century, Portugal and Spain dominated the Atlantic Slave Trade. It was not until later that the incorporation of France, Netherlands, and Great Britain called for more labor as the need pushed greater. The Middle Passage was known for the advancement of economics. Unfortunately, human Rights were completely irrelevant during the Middle Passage leaving the Africans with no voice. Race was not a contribution to the reasoning behind enslaving Africans; however, there was a high need for laborers during the Middle Passage and the Africans just happened to fall under the right tree. From the beginning of the trade until the Nineteenth Century abolition, about 6,500,000 out of 11,328,000 Africans were shipped to the Brazil and Spain …show more content…
African Slaves were being treated similar to that of a cattle or business cargo. Each African was unconsciously dehumanized to justify the moral reasoning behind their ungodly treatment. Dehumanization meant that slaves were emotionally absent or unqualified to meet the needs of a human. Africans had been completely stripped of all clothing, except for maybe a “slave cloth.” The slaves were required to be fed; however, many captains ignored this procedure in order to replace food room with more slaves. When the slaves were fed, they were fed the cheapest food possible in order to conserve as much money as possible and still keep them alive. The food was usually covered with large amounts of red pepper in order to cover up the horrid taste. As the captains hardly fed the slaves, they still had to maintain their physical condition. When the weather was good, the Slave Traders would take the slaves and force them to “dance” in order to give them exercise. The slaves were forced to jump up and down until often the flesh of their ankles was raw and bleeding from the iron chains which bound them together. Their names were physically erased
The entire triangular voyage could ideally take twelve months or longer depending on the weather. Once it was an African’s turn to board the Slave Ship, a doctor would inspect each slave before they were purchased from the Atlantic Slave Traders. They were examined carefully in order to determine which would most likely survive the voyage. During the beginning of the Middle Passage and sixteenth century, Portugal and Spain dominated the Atlantic Slave Trade. It was not until later that the incorporation of France, Netherlands, and Great Britain called for more labor as the need pushed greater. The Middle Passage was known for the advancement of economics. Unfortunately, human Rights were completely irrelevant during the Middle Passage leaving the Africans with no voice. Race was not a contribution to the reasoning behind enslaving Africans; however, there was a high need for laborers during the Middle Passage and the Africans just happened to fall under the right tree. From the beginning of the trade until the Nineteenth Century abolition, about 6,500,000 out of 11,328,000 Africans were shipped to the Brazil and Spain …show more content…
African Slaves were being treated similar to that of a cattle or business cargo. Each African was unconsciously dehumanized to justify the moral reasoning behind their ungodly treatment. Dehumanization meant that slaves were emotionally absent or unqualified to meet the needs of a human. Africans had been completely stripped of all clothing, except for maybe a “slave cloth.” The slaves were required to be fed; however, many captains ignored this procedure in order to replace food room with more slaves. When the slaves were fed, they were fed the cheapest food possible in order to conserve as much money as possible and still keep them alive. The food was usually covered with large amounts of red pepper in order to cover up the horrid taste. As the captains hardly fed the slaves, they still had to maintain their physical condition. When the weather was good, the Slave Traders would take the slaves and force them to “dance” in order to give them exercise. The slaves were forced to jump up and down until often the flesh of their ankles was raw and bleeding from the iron chains which bound them together. Their names were physically erased