GermanyThe article by Jan Robert Weber discusses the historical phenomenon of large-scale slavery in medieval Europe, comparing it to the slave trade in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using medieval chronicles and annals, Weber argues that both regions were 'slaving zones' that supplied slaves to major centers like Byzantium and the Caliphate. The piece highlights the scale of human trafficking, estimating up to half a million people enslaved between 834 and 933, with total casualties possibly reaching one million. It also examines the paradox of European rulers, such as Charlemagne and Henry I, who created protective states against enslavement while simultaneously engaging in slave-taking for economic gain.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the history of slavery in Europe through a lens that emphasizes systemic exploitation and moral failure, aligning with leftist critiques of historical power structures. While it presents factual historical data, the emphasis on Europe’s complicity in slavery and the comparison to
