Stage 2
Location: West Africa
European traders bought enslaved people from traveling African dealers - even families were separated. Slaves were held captive until a ship arrived and look them away. The slaves were then sold to either European or African captains. Captains would often take 3-4 months to look along the coast for the fittest and cheapest slaves. The ships would then sail the "Middle Passage" which was a long journey along the West Indies. During the journey, the slaves were densely packed onto ships and mistreated. There were many cases of violent resistance by Africans against slave ships and their crews. Some attacks were from the shore by "free" Africans against the ships, or the revolts were on board by the slaves.
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