It shows both the African and Arab slave trading empires. It should also be noted that this was distinct from the European Atlantic slave trade, which would begin two centuries later.
Here’s a bit more on some of the Empires and States highlighted:
Ghana Empire (ended in the 13th century)
Located in West Africa, the Ghana Empire was a powerful trading state known for its wealth derived from gold. It played a significant role in the trans-Saharan trade routes.
Although the Ghana Empire declined by the 13th century, it was a critical player in early trade networks that included the exchange of gold, salt, and slaves.
Mali Empire (13th to 15th century)
The Mali Empire succeeded the Ghana Empire and became one of the wealthiest and most powerful states in West Africa. Major cities like Timbuktu and Gao became vital trade centers.
The Mali Empire was deeply involved in the trans-Saharan slave trade. Enslaved individuals were captured through wars or raids and traded across the Sahara to North African and Middle Eastern markets.
Kanem-Bornu Empire
Located around Lake Chad, the Kanem-Bornu Empire was a powerful state from the 8th century onwards. It controlled trade routes that connected sub-Saharan Africa with North Africa.
The empire played a significant role in the trans-Saharan slave trade. It was a source of enslaved people who were sold to North Africa and the Middle East.
Ajuraan Empire
The Ajuraan Empire or Ajuran Sultanate was located in the Horn of Africa, along the coast of modern-day Somalia. It was a powerful trading state during the medieval period.
The Ajuraan Empire participated in trade networks along the Indian Ocean, which included the trafficking of enslaved Africans. These slaves were often sold to the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and India.
Adal Sultanate
The Adal Sultanate was an Islamic state located in the Horn of Africa, in what is now Ethiopia and Djibouti. It engaged in wars and trade with its neighboring Christian Ethiopian state.
The Adal Sultanate was involved in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade routes, which included the exchange of slaves. Slaves were sent to Arabian, Persian, and Indian markets.
Greater Zimbabwe
Greater Zimbabwe or Kingdom of Zimbabwe, located in Southern Africa, was known for its impressive stone architecture and served as a major trade center.
Though not directly involved in the slave trade, Greater Zimbabwe was part of the Indian Ocean trade network that saw the exchange of gold, ivory, and other goods, including slaves captured further north.
Empire of Kitara
The Empire of Kitara is a historical and legendary kingdom located in the Great Lakes region of Africa, particularly around Uganda.
Little is known about its direct involvement in the slave trade, but it was part of the broader network of trade and cultural exchange in Central Africa.
Kilwa Sultanate
The Kilwa Sultanate was a powerful city-state along the Swahili Coast, known for its involvement in the Indian Ocean trade network.
Kilwa and other Swahili city-states were significant participants in the trade of slaves from the interior of Africa to markets across the Indian Ocean, including Arabia, Persia, and India.
Arab States
Hafsids (Ifriqiya)
Capital: Tunis (modern-day Tunisia)
The Hafsids were an Arab-Berber dynasty that ruled Ifriqiya, covering parts of modern-day Tunisia, eastern Algeria, and western Libya. They emerged in the early 13th century after breaking away from the Almohad Caliphate.
The Hafsids were influential in the Mediterranean trade networks and were known for fostering trade relations with Europe and the Muslim world. They maintained a relatively stable and prosperous state and engaged in diplomatic and military conflicts with neighboring states and European powers.
Marinids (Morocco)
Capital: Fes (modern-day Morocco)
The Marinid Dynasty was a Berber dynasty that rose to power in the 13th century after the decline of the Almohads in Morocco. They established their rule in the mid-13th century and controlled much of Morocco, including the key cities of Fes and Marrakech.
Though the Marinids were a Berber dynasty, they adopted many aspects of Arab culture, religion, and administration. They maintained a strong military and economic presence in the region and were involved in conflicts with the Hafsids, Nasrids, and Christian kingdoms in Iberia.
Ayyubids (Egypt and Eastern Libya)
Capital: Cairo (modern-day Egypt)
The Ayyubid Dynasty, founded by Saladin in the late 12th century, continued to rule Egypt and parts of eastern Libya during the early 13th century. The Ayyubids were of Kurdish origin but had adopted Arab culture and played a central role in the Muslim world.
The Ayyubids maintained control over Egypt, a major cultural and economic center, and were involved in trade, including the trans-Saharan routes that connected sub-Saharan Africa to the Mediterranean. They also had a significant impact on the Crusades and regional politics until the Mamluks took over in the mid-13th century.
Mamluks (Egypt and parts of North Africa)
Capital: Cairo (modern-day Egypt)
The Mamluk Sultanate emerged in Egypt in the mid-13th century after the fall of the Ayyubid Dynasty. Although initially founded by a military caste of former slave soldiers (Mamluks), the Mamluks adopted Arab culture, language, and Islamic governance.
The Mamluks extended their influence across Egypt and parts of Libya. They played a significant role in the trade networks of the region and were known for defeating the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut and expelling the Crusaders from the Levant.
Zirids (Eastern Algeria and Tunisia)
Capital: Algiers (modern-day Algeria)
By the 13th century, the Zirids, who were initially a Sanhaja Berber dynasty but heavily Arabized over time, had largely declined due to their conflicts with the Almohads and the rise of the Hafsids. Some remnants of their rule may have continued in isolated regions, but their power was mostly eclipsed by the Hafsids and other rising powers.
Slave Trade Routes Depicted on the Map:
The trans-Saharan trade routes connected West Africa (e.g., Mali Empire, Kanem-Bornu) with North Africa and the Middle East, where enslaved individuals, gold, and other goods were exchanged.
The Indian Ocean trade routes facilitated the movement of slaves from East African coastal states (e.g., Kilwa, Ajuraan Empire) to destinations such as the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and South Asia.
Red Sea routes connected the Horn of Africa (Adal Sultanate) with the Arabian Peninsula, facilitating a slave trade that spanned across the Middle East.
During the 13th century, the African slave trade was predominantly focused on internal and trans-Saharan routes, rather than the later transatlantic slave trade.
Here’s an overview of the slave trade in Africa during this period:
Internal African Slave Trade
Slavery had been present in Africa for centuries before the 13th century, with various African societies practicing slavery in different forms. Slaves were often prisoners of war, criminals, or debtors.
Slaves were commonly used for labor, including farming, domestic work, and serving in armies. They could be traded locally or across different regions within Africa.
Trans-Saharan Slave Trade
The trans-Saharan slave trade was a significant part of the African slave trade during the 13th century. This trade route connected sub-Saharan Africa with North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
Muslim merchants, particularly Berbers and Arabs, were heavily involved in this trade, transporting enslaved Africans across the Sahara Desert to markets in North Africa, the Middle East, and even parts of Asia.
Slaves were primarily used in domestic roles, military service, or as concubines. Some were integrated into the societies they were sold into, depending on their skills or roles.
Islamic Influence
The spread of Islam across North and West Africa during the 8th to 13th centuries significantly influenced the dynamics of slavery in the region. Islamic law permitted slavery but regulated its practice, prohibiting the enslavement of fellow Muslims.
However, in practice, Muslim traders did enslave non-Muslims from various African regions, who were then transported to North Africa and the Middle East.
Role of Slavery in Trade Networks
Slavery was an integral part of broader trade networks that included gold, salt, ivory, and other goods. The movement of enslaved people was intertwined with these commercial activities.
Some slaves were forced to work in mines (such as gold mines in the Mali Empire), while others served in households or as soldiers in armies.
While the transatlantic slave trade is the most well-known, the internal and trans-Saharan slave trades were extensive and had a profound impact on African societies long before European involvement.
Also see: The Barbary Slave Trade & Other European Slave Trade Networks and Simplified Map Of The The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
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