Indian Ocean Slave Trade Research Paper

Words: 319
Pages: 2

Beginning with the control of the sea by Arab traders on the inner countryside during the ninth century, these traders captured slaves from the interior in present day Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania and brought them to the coast. There, the slaves gradually integrated in the rural areas, particularly on the Ungula and Pemba islands. These captives were sold throughout the Middle East. This trade accelerated as superior ships led to more trade and greater demand for labor on plantations in the region. Eventually, tens of thousands of captives were being taken every year. The Indian Ocean slave trade was multi-directional and changed over time. To meet the demand for basic labor, Bantu slaves bought by Arab slave traders from eastern Africa were