1776–1830: The Middle Passage to Brazil was approximately 40 percent shorter than the corresponding route to the Caribbean, yet shipboard mortality rates rem…

1776–1830: The Middle Passage to Brazil was approximately 40 percent shorter than the corresponding route to the Caribbean, yet shipboard mortality rates remained comparable. While mortality rates declined sharply over the preceding centuries, the differences in survival rates between various African regions of departure remained large. Improvements in maritime technology and vessel management were gradually reducing the human cost of the crossing during this peak era of the trade. However, the South Atlantic winds and currents remained the primary determinant of voyage length for Brazilian-bound vessels.