Barbary Pirates and European Captives
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, Barbary pirates from North Africa (the Barbary Coast) raided European coastal towns and ships, capturing men, women, and children. These captives were often sold into slavery in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. It is estimated that up to 1.25 million Europeans were enslaved during this period.
Slave Markets and Treatment
Captured Europeans were brought to bustling slave markets in cities like Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. There, they were sold to the highest bidders. The conditions for these slaves were brutal, with many forced into hard labor, domestic servitude, or sexual slavery. The harsh treatment and poor living conditions led to high mortality rates among the captives.
2. The Enslavement of Slavs: The Origins of the Term 'Slave'
Viking Raids and Slave Trade
During the Middle Ages, the Vikings conducted extensive slave raids across Eastern Europe, capturing Slavs and selling them in slave markets throughout the Islamic world and Europe. The term "slave" itself is derived from "Slav," reflecting the prevalence of Slavic captives in the medieval slave trade.
Islamic Slave Markets
The Islamic Caliphates and Ottoman Empire were major players in the medieval slave trade. Slavic captives were often transported to the Middle East and North Africa, where they were integrated into various aspects of society, from labor to military service. Some even rose to significant positions of power, such as the Mamluks in Egypt.
3. The Irish Slave Trade: A Hidden Chapter
Oliver Cromwell and the Irish
In the 17th century, following the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell's conquest of Ireland led to the mass enslavement and transportation of Irish people. Thousands of Irish men, women, and children were forcibly sent to the Caribbean and American colonies, where they endured harsh conditions as indentured servants or outright slaves.