| The slave trade is almost as old as civilisation.
Between 6th and 10th centuries AD the primary source of slaves for Europe and the
Middle East were territories of Central and Eastern Europe, especially Slavonic people. This is the reason why the word for slave
in many European languages is derived from the word for Slavs (for example English, German and French). After the conquest North
Africa and Spain by Muslims, the Islamic World became a huge importer of slaves from
Central Europe. The trade routes were established between slave trade centres in the Slavonic countries (for example Prague and
Wolin) and Arab metropolies in Spain. Because of religious reasons the slave trade was monopolised by Jews who were able transfer the slaves from pagan Central Europe through christian Western Europe to muslim countries
in Spain and Africa. Majority of slaves were prisoners captured in wars between Slavonic tribes and states. This trade came to
the end in 10th century after christianisation of Central European slavonic countries.
For specific articles on the slave trade, see:
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