The Indian Ocean Slave Trade was Likely Bigger than the Atlantic Trade | Smithsonian Channel

Summary

The video script delves into the multi-racial history of slavery in Istanbul, contrasting it with the enduring racism faced by African descendants. It explores the ancient Indian Ocean slave trade, which predates the Atlantic trade and was multi-directional, involving various ethnicities. The script highlights the exponential growth of slave exports to the Muslim world post-8th century, the impact on African diaspora communities, and the role of Islamic law in this context. It contrasts the gender dynamics of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean trades, with the latter focusing on services and having a higher ratio of women to men. The Omani Arab empire's control over the slave trade hub in modern-day Tanzania is also discussed, along with Britain's efforts in the 19th century to suppress the slave trade, leading to encounters between the British Royal Navy and Zanzibari slave traders.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Slavery in Istanbul was diverse, with people of many races enslaved, meaning skin color alone did not indicate freedom or enslavement.
• 🏆 Descendants of enslaved people within the Ottoman Empire have not faced the same level of racism and discrimination as those of enslaved Africans.
• 🌊 The Indian Ocean slave trade is one of the oldest, predating the Atlantic trade and involving the trafficking of more individuals in a multi-directional manner.
• 📈 After Arab traders gained control over the Swahili coast and sea routes in the 8th century, the export of enslaved people to the Muslim world increased significantly.
• 🌐 The trafficking from Africa's east coast led to the formation of African diaspora communities such as the Shidis in Pakistan and India, and the Afro-Iraqis in Basra.
• ⛔ Despite Islamic law prohibiting slave trading, many in the Indian Ocean world disregarded these rules and captured non-Muslims, including Africans, Indians, and Southeast Asians.
• 🙏 Both Christianity and Islam teach the value of humans as creations of God, yet both religions have historically allowed the capture, sale, and ownership of enslaved individuals.
• 🔄 The Atlantic trade was labor-oriented, with a higher ratio of men to women being shipped, while the Indian Ocean trade focused on services, resulting in a higher ratio of women to men.
• 🏛️ The hub of the Indian Ocean slave trade was in modern-day Tanzania, under the control of the Omani Arab empire from the 17th century, specializing in ivory, spices, and slaves.
• 🚢 By 1807, Britain had outlawed the slave trade and deployed naval warships to suppress other nations' slave trades, leading to confrontations with Zanzibar's slave traders in the Indian Ocean.

Q & A

What was the significance of skin color in determining slavery in Istanbul?

In Istanbul, skin color did not determine whether a person was free or enslaved, unlike in other regions where it was a significant marker.

How does the history of the descendants of enslaved people within the Ottoman Empire differ from that of enslaved Africans?

Descendants of enslaved people within the Ottoman Empire have not faced centuries of racism and discrimination, unlike the descendants of enslaved Africans.

When did the trafficking of Africans into slavery begin, and where were they initially shipped?

The trafficking of Africans into slavery began much earlier than commonly realized, with enslaved people initially shipped across the Indian Ocean rather than the Atlantic Ocean.

Why is the Indian Ocean slave trade considered the oldest of the slave trades?

The Indian Ocean slave trade is considered the oldest because it transported more human beings and was multi-directional, predating the transatlantic slave trade.

How did Arab traders' control of the Swahili coast and sea routes in the 8th century impact the slave trade?

Arab traders' control of the Swahili coast and sea routes in the 8th century led to an exponential growth in the export of enslaved people from the Indian Ocean to the Muslim world.

What are some examples of African diaspora communities that emerged due to the Indian Ocean slave trade?

Examples of African diaspora communities that emerged due to the Indian Ocean slave trade include the Shidis in Pakistan and India, and the Afro-Iraqis in Basra.

What is the stance of Islamic law on slave trading, and how did it influence the Indian Ocean world?

Islamic law does not permit slave trading, but many Muslims throughout the Indian Ocean world ignored these rules and engaged in plundering and capturing Africans, Indians, and Southeast Asians, usually non-Muslims.

How did the Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades differ in terms of gender ratios and purposes?

The Atlantic trade centered on labor and shipped more men, while the Indian Ocean trade centered on services, including soldiers, cooks, and concubines, and shipped more women.

What was the role of the Omani Arab empire in the Indian Ocean slave trade during the 17th century?

The Omani Arab empire, controlling modern-day Tanzania from the 17th century, specialized in ivory, spices, and slaves, becoming a hub for the Indian Ocean slave trade.

How did Britain's stance against the slave trade impact the Indian Ocean slave trade?

Britain's opposition to the slave trade led to the deployment of naval warships to suppress the slave trades of other nations, including those in the Indian Ocean, particularly targeting the slave traders of Zanzibar.