Final answer:
Enslaved individuals on slave ships commonly died from diseases, the inhumane conditions of the Middle Passage, and intentional acts by captains to profit from insurance claims.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common ways enslaved persons died aboard slave ships were due to diseases, the brutal conditions of the Middle Passage, and by deliberate drowning. Diseases such as dysentery, smallpox, and conjunctivitis spread rapidly in the close, filthy quarters of the ship, while the harsh conditions led to malnutrition and physical abuse. Additionally, captains like that of the Zong were known to deliberately throw enslaved individuals overboard to claim insurance.