Slave ships were vessels specifically designed for transporting enslaved people, primarily from Africa to the Americas, during the transatlantic slave trade. These ships were often overcrowded and unsanitary, leading to high mortality rates among the captives. Conditions were brutal, with individuals chained together and limited access to food and water. The journey, known as the Middle Passage, could last several weeks or months. Many enslaved individuals suffered from disease, malnutrition, and abuse during the voyage. The slave trade was a significant part of the Atlantic economy, profoundly impacting African societies and contributing to the development of American plantations.