1534–1700: An analysis of early slaving voyages shows that shipboard mortality and travel times varied significantly between different arrival regions in the…

1534–1700: An analysis of early slaving voyages shows that shipboard mortality and travel times varied significantly between different arrival regions in the Caribbean. For instance, voyages to the Dutch Caribbean typically took longer than those to British or French islands, yet they often recorded lower rates of captive deaths. These discrepancies suggest that the specific health conditions at African embarkation points and the management practices of different national traders were crucial factors. The data from this period underscores that the survival of the Middle Passage was influenced by a complex set of geographic and administrative variables.