- Through war and conquest: Slave traders would often raid villages and communities, capturing people and selling them into slavery. This was a common practice in Africa, where wars were often fought over resources such as land, cattle, and slaves.
- Kidnapping: Slave traders would also kidnap people, especially women and children, from their homes and villages. This was a common practice in Africa and the Americas.
- Debt bondage: People who could not repay their debts were sometimes sold into slavery by their creditors. This was a common practice in Africa and Asia.
- Trade: Slave traders would also buy slaves from other traders or from local leaders. This was a common practice in Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East.
Why did slave traders get slaves?
Slave traders got slaves for a variety of reasons, including:
- Economic reasons: Slaves were a valuable commodity that could be sold for a high price. Slave labor was used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
- Social reasons: Slaves were often seen as inferior to free people and were treated as property. This made them a convenient source of labor for dangerous or unpleasant jobs.
- Political reasons: Slave traders sometimes used slavery as a way to control and oppress certain populations. For example, the Arab slave trade in East Africa was used to suppress local resistance to Arab rule.
- Religious reasons: Some slave traders believed that slavery was justified by their religion. For example, some Christian slave traders believed that enslaving Africans was a way to "Christianize" them.