TRANS SAHARA SLAVE TRADE
Summary
TLDRThis episode explores the trans-sahara slave trade, an older and less known form of African enslavement that spanned over 20 million Africans across the Sahara to the Middle East. It discusses the trade's origins, the harsh journey slaves faced, and its impact on African kingdoms, including the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa. The script also touches on how European awareness of Africa's wealth led to the transatlantic slave trade and colonization.
Takeaways
- 🌍 The script discusses the trans-sahara slave trade, which is distinct from the transatlantic slave trade.
- 📚 The trans-sahara slave trade is the oldest form of slave trade in Africa, dating back to 1000 BCE.
- 🛣️ Trade routes across the Sahara were established for goods like gold, salt, and textiles.
- 🔗 The spread of Islam facilitated communication and trade between African and Arab traders.
- 🔢 It's estimated that over 20 million Africans were enslaved through the trans-sahara trade.
- 🐫 The journey across the Sahara was perilous for slaves, with many dying from dehydration and harsh conditions.
- 👥 Women captured often became sex slaves or concubines, while some men were trained as soldiers.
- 🏺 The Mali Empire, particularly under Mansa Musa, was a powerful kingdom that benefited from the slave trade.
- 💰 Mansa Musa's wealth in gold was so vast that he influenced the gold market in the Mediterranean.
- 🌐 European explorers were drawn to Africa's wealth, which eventually led to the transatlantic slave trade and colonization.
- 📖 The script invites viewers to stay tuned for more historical exploration in the upcoming season.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the discussed episode?
-The main focus of the discussed episode is the enslavement responsible for over 20 million Africans across the Sahara to Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East, known as the trans-sahara slave trade.
How does the trans-sahara slave trade differ from the transatlantic slave trade?
-The trans-sahara slave trade is older and involved the movement of slaves across the Sahara Desert to North Africa and the Middle East, whereas the transatlantic slave trade involved the forced exodus of Africans to the Caribbean and other parts of Europe.
When did the trans-sahara slave trade begin?
-The trans-sahara slave trade dates as far back as 1000 BCE.
What were the main items traded across the Sahara before the slave trade?
-Before the slave trade, items such as foodstuff, gold, and salt from the rich old mines of North Africa were traded along the Sahara routes.
How did the spread of Islam affect trade across the Sahara?
-The spread of Islam in West Africa, especially in areas close to the Sahara, bridged the communication gap between traders of African and Arab origin and fostered more trade across the desert.
What was the estimated number of Africans enslaved through the trans-sahara slave trade?
-Contemporary historians believe that over 27 million Africans were enslaved through the trans-sahara slave trade.
What were the conditions like for slaves crossing the Sahara?
-Slaves endured scorching sun, cold nights, sandy walkways, sandstorms, and often went for days without food and water. Dehydration killed more slaves than their slave masters did.
What was the role of camels in the trans-sahara slave trade?
-Camels, referred to as 'desert limos', were used to reduce the distance of the journey across the Sahara, but the slaves still had to endure harsh conditions.
What was the Mali Empire known for during the time of Mansa Musa?
-The Mali Empire, under Mansa Musa, was known for its wealth, extensive territories, over 400 cities, universities with Arabian scholars and architects, and its famous capital, Timbuktu.
How did Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca affect the gold market in Egypt?
-Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca, where he spent extensively and gave away large amounts of gold, is believed to have created a financial recession in Cairo for the next 10 years, potentially devaluing the Egyptian gold market.
What was the impact of the trans-sahara slave trade on the later transatlantic slave trade and colonization of Africa?
-The trans-sahara slave trade led to the rise of powerful kingdoms, which in turn caught the attention of Europeans, leading to the realization of Africa's vast wealth. This eventually gave birth to the transatlantic slave trade and later, the colonization of Africa.
Outlines
🌍 Trans-Saharan Slave Trade
This paragraph discusses the lesser-known history of the trans-Saharan slave trade, which predates the transatlantic slave trade and involved the movement of over 20 million Africans across the Sahara to regions such as Egypt and Syria. The trade began around 1000 BCE and was facilitated by established trade routes for goods like gold and salt. Arab merchants played a significant role, and as the trade grew, so did the demand for cheap labor, leading to the enslavement of Africans. The harsh journey across the Sahara was fraught with danger, including extreme weather conditions and the lack of food and water, which claimed many lives. Slaves faced brutal treatment, with some becoming sex slaves or concubines, and others being trained as soldiers. The paragraph also touches on the impact of the spread of Islam on trade and communication across the Sahara.
🏺 The Mali Empire and Mansa Musa
The second paragraph delves into the Mali Empire, particularly focusing on Mansa Musa, who ruled in the 14th century and was known for his immense wealth. Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca with a large entourage, including slaves and camels carrying gold, had a significant economic impact on the regions he visited, including Cairo. His actions are believed to have influenced the gold market and led to a financial recession. The Mali Empire, under Mansa Musa, was a powerful entity with over 400 cities and a thriving academic environment. The paragraph also discusses the influence of Mansa Musa's fame on European awareness of Africa's wealth, which eventually contributed to the transatlantic slave trade and colonization. The narrative concludes by inviting viewers to stay tuned for future episodes that will explore European exploration and the myths that facilitated colonization.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Trans-sahara Slave Trade
💡Transatlantic Slave Trade
💡Desert Limos
💡Mansa Musa
💡Mali Empire
💡Timbuktu
💡European Explorers
💡Colonization
💡Harlem Shipwreck
💡Arabian Scholars
💡Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Highlights
The trans-sahara slave trade was responsible for over 20 million Africans being taken across the Sahara to Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East.
The trans-sahara slave trade is the oldest type of slave trade documented in Africa, dating back to 1000 BCE.
Trade routes across the Sahara were established for goods like gold, salt, and textiles.
Arab merchants played a significant role in conducting business along these trade routes.
The need for cheaper manpower led to the enslavement of Africans for labor.
The trans-sahara slave trade was monopolized for hundreds of years, lasting until the 19th century.
The spread of Islam in West Africa facilitated communication and trade across the Sahara.
It is estimated that over 27 million Africans were traded across the Sahara, though the exact number is unknown.
The journey across the Sahara was treacherous, with slaves enduring harsh conditions such as scorching sun, cold nights, and sandstorms.
Dehydration was a leading cause of death for slaves crossing the Sahara.
Women often became sex slaves or concubines, while some men were trained as soldiers.
The Mali Empire, under Mansa Musa, was a powerful kingdom that had significant wealth and influence.
Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca with a large entourage and vast quantities of gold had a significant impact on the economy of the Mediterranean.
Mansa Musa's extravagant spending in Cairo reportedly led to a financial recession that lasted for a decade.
The Mali Empire's wealth and the trans-sahara trade attracted the attention of European explorers.
The realization of Africa's wealth by Europeans led to the transatlantic slave trade and later colonization.
The trans-sahara slave trade and the Mali Empire's prosperity are significant parts of African history that are often overlooked in favor of the transatlantic slave trade narrative.
Transcripts
whenever the topic of slave trade comes
up
what comes to our minds are the images
of black slaves in shackles and chains
aboard a ship bound for the caribbean
and other parts
of europe this was called the
transatlantic
slave trade but that is not what we are
talking about today
in this episode we take a look at the
enslavement that was responsible
for over 20 million africans across the
sahara
to egypt syria and other parts of the
middle east
the trans-sahara slave trade
[Music]
before we start please like and
subscribe to our channel
for more stories otherwise we will not
share our sweet
pot wine with you
you might be wondering aren't the
europeans the one who arrived in shores
of africa
and took loads of slaves away on their
ships
loads hmm okay
let me explain there were two major
forms
of slave trades in africa the first
was the trans-sahara slave trade the
second
is the transatlantic or the triangular
slave trade
the trans-sahara slave trade is by far
the oldest type of slave trade
documented in africa
and perhaps the world at large it dates
as far back
as 1000 bce
although the desert was so large that it
was referred to
as the sea of sands by early roman and
jewish historians
trade roads were already established a
large number of items from footstuff
gold and salt which originated from the
rich old mines of north africa
were carried along these routes and
every trade
had its own dawn the arabs
arab merchants conducted their business
between north african states
in the west in return they brought in
weapons
fabrics and other precious items to sell
to the north africans
even down towards the west west africans
how far
the lucrative business meant prosperity
for everyone which led to the need for
cheaper manpower that will later be
found
in slaves
the continuous movement of slaves across
the sahara came to be known
as the trans-sahara slave trade and this
was later
to be monopolized for hundreds of years
even up to the 19th century the spread
of islam in west
africa especially in areas close to the
sahara
bridged the communication gap between
traders of
african and arab origin and fostered
more trade
across the desert while it was estimated
that the trans-atlantic slave trade
which occurred
in the later years led to the forced
exodus of over 18 million africans
the exact number of africans traded
across the sahara
is unknown
[Music]
contemporary historians believe that
this was an
estimate of over 27 million
africans the journey across the sahara
which is the natural demarcation between
north and west africa
was about 1 200 miles which by any means
is not an easy feat but the introduction
of desert limos sorry camels
reduce the distance but not for the
slaves
they endured the scorching sun the cold
nights
sandy walkways and sandstorms which gave
no warnings
the poisonous reptiles oh god the slaves
often go for
days without food and water
please give me water to drink
dehydration killed more slaves than
their slave masters did
sick and feeble ones would be left
behind to die
and rebellious ones would be killed
the women either became sex slaves or
concubines
and some of the men were trained as
soldiers
[Music]
whatever the case they all had a common
destiny
to be sold as slaves to the highest beta
once the desert
has been crossed the trans-sahara slave
trade
was also harsh to the merchants too if
one ever embarked on such a journey
he would have to travel with his entire
family or army
or still kiss them goodbye because he
could not predict
when he would return machete
i may never see you again
in those days it might take six months
or one year
to travel and return through the desert
that is
if you do not meet with the gentleman of
the desert i'm talking
alibaba and the 40 thieves more than 40
thieves than alibaba himself
today such journeys take only about two
to three hours
to cross the desert by air whenever you
see the inventors of the aircraft
just thank them as the trade continued
deep into west africa weaker states were
raided
the slaves will work in gold mines and
carried it
off for long distances
stronger states imposed taxes when the
margins passed through their territories
and the merchants formed alliances with
kings
for protection of trade those smart
devils these led to the rise of powerful
kingdoms who had gold
had slaves but had stupid kings who
exchanged slaves
for a bottle of whiskey which even
threatened the sale of our sweet ham
wine
backing bad bad king one powerful
kingdom
that we need to know in those times 1324
was the mali empire where the richest
man who ever lived
ruled yeah you can verify that
on forbes his name was mansa musa
the tenth mansa or emperor of mali
hildemansa now in case you didn't know
mansa musa had a brother named mansa
abubakar
before he became king mali empire
extended up to the current day ghana
guinea senegal mauritania and gambia
some historians say it also consisted of
the canon empire
in modern-day nigeria the king before
him
has reportedly reached the fifth stage
of maslow's hierarchy of needs
and wanted more so he handed moosa the
kingdom
and went on an expedition to explore the
atlantic ocean
but never returned mansa musa
took over the kingdom expanded it
through a series of conquests of weaker
and rebellious states at the height of
its power
mali had over 400 cities had
universities with arabian scholars and
architects
oh yeah mansa musa was a good politician
and knew his game he was so rich in gold
that on his pilgrimage to mecca he went
with sixty thousand men
all wearing expensive persian silks and
brocades
twelve thousand slaves did i say slaves
yes
slaves that helped to carry luggage of
gold across the sahara
with him 80 camels all loaded with gold
dust
and he fed his entire company all
through the journey
it was said that he built a mosque each
friday
gave gifts of gold to the poor and spent
extensively who is a spender
some historians believed he deliberately
wanted to devalue the egyptian gold
market since
the amount of good he splashed
particularly in cairo
created financial recession for the next
10 years
this is the only time recorded in
history that one man
directly controlled the prize of gold in
the mediterranean
others say it was a show-off to make his
timbok ii
the capital of mali famous indeed
mansa musa made timbuktu so famous
such that the news of his world and
pilgrimage to the holy land
caught the attention of europeans as
mali found her way
into the catalan atlas in 1375
in fact the major african city
recognized by most europeans around the
14th century
was timbuktu just
many european explorers sailed through
the atlantic ocean from france
portugal england germany and spain to
see for themselves
what was in africa and a number of them
landed in the west african ports
these events led to the realization of
the vast wealth
of africa by the europeans which later
gave birth to the transatlantic slave
trade and later
the colonization of africa
oh sad we the native historians
recognize the legends of early european
explorers
the agony of transatlantic slave trade
and its abolition the harlem shipwreck
and african myths that favored
colonization
stay with us as we explore these
four-part episodes
in our next season called the margins of
the ocean
we welcome your comments and
contributions and don't forget to
support us by subscribing
liking and sharing our video and we
shall be sharing our sweet pam wine
with you all the way
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