The iconography of slave ships often included various symbols and designs. What were some common symbols used on slave ships?

The choice reflecting shackles and chains as common symbols used on slave ships is correct because these items are direct representations of the inhumane conditions and brutal treatment endured by enslaved individuals during the Middle Passage. Shackles and chains symbolize the loss of freedom, oppression, and the forced confinement of captives.

The use of these symbols highlights the harsh realities of the transatlantic slave trade, where enslaved Africans were subjected to physical restraint and dehumanizing conditions. Such imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the suffering and struggles faced by those who were forcibly taken from their homelands and transported under horrific circumstances.

In contrast, while crosses and religious artifacts may have represented aspects of faith among some enslaved peoples, they were not prevalent symbols associated with the ships themselves. African tribal symbols and totems primarily reflect cultural heritage rather than the conditions aboard slave ships. Similarly, symbols of wealth and opulence, although relevant to the context of the slave trade’s economic motivations, do not accurately depict the grim realities experienced on those ships. Thus, shackles and chains remain the most poignant and relevant symbols connected directly to the experience of slavery during transportation.