What was the Middle Passage and how did it affect the world?

The Middle Passage refers to the slave trade route which slave traders used to transport slaves from Africa to the New World. It is referred to as the "Middle Passage" because it formed the second stage in what was known as "Triangular Trade." First, Europeans sailed down to Africa, where they traded manufactured goods to African warlords in exchange for African slaves. Then, the Europeans transported the slaves across the Middle Passage to the New World. Finally, the slave traders sold the slaves and returned the profits to Europe, which they used to produce or purchase more manufactured goods to take to Africa.

As many as 12 million Africans were transported across the Middle Passage, and an estimated 2 million died during or as a result of the journey. Ultimately, the Middle Passage affected the world by incentivizing racism and slavery and allowing Europeans to reap profits by oppressing fellow humans.