Final answer:
In the Middle Passage, Europeans forcibly relocated millions of Africans to the Americas as part of the triangular trade, bringing gold, silver, and raw materials back to Europe. The Middle Passage was characterized by harsh conditions that led to a high mortality rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Middle Passage, Europeans forcibly relocated millions of Africans to the Americas. The transatlantic slave trade was part of a larger economic system known as the triangular trade, involving the transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, where they were primarily used in the production of cash crops like sugar, cotton, and tobacco. These agricultural goods were then shipped to Europe, fueling the continent's economy and industries.
Europeans transported valuable items such as gold, silver, and raw materials back to Europe. These raw materials and precious metals contributed to the wealth and the luxury of the upper class Europeans. The exploitation of African labor and resources significantly impacted African populations, as well as local industries, due to population losses and the influx of European goods.
The Middle Passage itself was a horrific experience, marked by overcrowding, disease, and high mortality rates, where an estimated 12-13 percent of the enslaved people perished before reaching the Americas. Despite the challenges to quantify the exact number of enslaved people transported, it is believed that over ten million survived the journey and were subjected to a life of enslavement in the New World.