1. Racism: Europeans believed that black people were inferior and that they could be used as property. This racism was based on the idea that Europeans were more civilized and advanced than Africans, and that blacks were naturally suited for slavery.
2. Greed: The slave trade was a very lucrative business, and slave traders were motivated by greed to maximize their profits. This led to them packing slaves onto ships in extremely crowded and unsanitary conditions, and to providing them with only the bare minimum of food and water.
3. Fear: Europeans were afraid of slave rebellions, and they treated slaves harshly in order to keep them in control. This included using violence, torture, and psychological abuse.
4. Ignorance: Many Europeans simply did not understand the horrors of the slave trade. They were unaware of the conditions that slaves endured on the middle passage, and they did not believe that slavery was a morally repugnant institution.
The combination of these factors led to the horrific conditions that slaves endured on the middle passage. Millions of Africans died during the middle passage, and those who survived were often traumatized by the experience. The middle passage was a dark chapter in human history, and it is important to remember the suffering of those who endured it.