One of the most tragic and shameful pages in the history of mankind is the massive export of African slaves to other countries. Having black slaves was an indicator of wealth, a high position in society. When did the first African slaves come to Europe?
African slaves in ancient Rome
Black slaves, accustomed to hot climates, were mainly used to work on cotton and sugar plantations in the Americas. But African slaves were also in Europe, where they were used as "exotic" domestic servants. The exact date when the first black slaves entered Europe is still unknown. From the writings of some ancient Greek historians, philosophers and writers that have survived to our time, it can be concluded that some (very small) number of African slaves were in Athens and some other city-states of Hellas.
Most likely, ancient Greek travelers bought black Nubian slaves in Egypt and brought them home. And after Rome defeated Carthage in the 2nd Punic War (218 - 201 BC), and especially after the capture and destruction of Carthage by the Romans (146 BC), the number of African slaves in Europe has increased dramatically. Black slaves appeared in many homes and villas of wealthy Romans. They, like their white counterparts in misfortune, had no rights, completely depending on the humanity and whim of the owners. It is no coincidence that the Roman scientist Mark Terentius Varro pointed out that a slave is just a talking tool.
When African slaves appeared in medieval Europe
After the fall of the Roman Empire, black slaves in Europe were forgotten for many centuries. However, in the first half of the 15th century, with the beginning of the era of the great geographical discoveries, the Portuguese, looking for a sea route to India to establish an uninterrupted supply of spices and other exotic goods, began to regularly survey the western coast of Africa. Every year they moved farther and farther, putting a previously unknown coast on the map, often landed, came into contact with the leaders of local tribes. And in 1444, Captain Nunyu Trishtan, who reached the mouth of the Senegal River, captured ten blacks there, which he brought to Lisbon and sold at a high price. Thus, the first black slaves entered medieval Europe.
Encouraged by the example of Trishtan, some Portuguese captains took up this shameful business that brought a good income (it should be noted that the craft of a slave trader in those days was not considered not only shameful, but even reprehensible). The example of the Portuguese was followed a little later by the Spaniards, the French, and the British. Whole fleets of ships were sent to Africa every year for slaves. And this continued for several centuries until the slave trade was outlawed.
