Trans-Saharan slave trade

The trans-Saharan slave trade was a Muslim slave trade across the Sahara, from the 7th century until the early-to-mid-20th century. Slaves, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, were sold throughout the coastal Maghreb, Egypt, the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, and regions of West Asia.

Estimates of the total number of black slaves moved from sub-Saharan Africa to the Arab world range from 6 to 10 million from the mid-7th century until the 20th century when it was abolished. While Europeans managed and operated the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Arabs managed and operated the East African and trans-Saharan slave trade. Berber elites and Arabized Berbers were also actively involved in the enslavement and trade of slaves.