The Middle passage represents the most horrendous and longest forced mass migration of human history. This forced migration played a major role in the development of the European-dominated Atlantic World and the economic, social, cultural and political landscapes of Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The Middle Passage was a brutal journey lasting several months. African men, women, and children were crammed onto ships packed so tightly they could not move or lie down. They were routinely beaten and starved. Many died of disease, malnutrition, and physical abuse. Those who survived faced a life of slavery in the Americas.
The experience of the Middle Passage was truly unforgettable. It left a profound impact on those who endured it. Many Africans who were taken to the Americas brought their culture, music and traditions with them, all of which would eventually come to influence American culture.