Write a paragraph (5 sentences) describing the change that took place in the African slave trade in the 1500s. Describe the Middle Passage and it's toll on people.

The first shipment of slaves into the slave trade was in the early 1500's. This started the Triangular Trade of raw materials, to manufactured goods, and to slaves in order to process raw materials. The middle passage was the middle leg of this cycle in which slaves were captured in Africa and taken over seas for labor. The worst part was the trip. They were crammed inside the bottom of slave ships like sardines. Urine and feces would fill the bottom of the boat and diseases would spread extremely fast. They were fed barely anything and very often the women were raped by the crew on the ship. The toll was horrible as many people died on board and the inhumane conditions.