1. What were conditions like for the enslaved Africans below deck?

Conditions for enslaved Africans below deck during the transatlantic slave trade were horrific and inhumane. They were crammed into spaces so tight they often couldn't sit upright, chained together, and forced to lie in their own filth and the filth of others. Disease was rampant due to poor sanitation, lack of ventilation, and malnutrition. Mortality rates were incredibly high. The darkness, heat, and stench created a living hell. Women were subjected to sexual assault, and the cries of the sick and dying were a constant presence. These conditions were deliberately imposed to maximize profits and control the enslaved people.<br />