"History 102" with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg

Key Takeaways

Our society obsesses over African slavery; it has become a deep psychological neurosis that tears society apart
Africa had three different slave trades from the Middle Ages to the 20th century
- The internal African slave (the largest)
- The Muslim slave trade (selling slaves to the Muslim world; 2nd largest)
- The Western European slave trade (3rd largest)
Throughout human history, Africa was the place that the most slaves were pulled out of – contrasted with other areas such as Europe and Asia, which had centralized governments that were able to protect their citizens
Once Africa became a part of the global economy, it realized that it could offer slaves in exchange for goods and services
The vast majority of people involved in the African slave trade were black
“I don’t think any serious historian could ever support the 1619 Project who is not an ideologue. It’s not even a historical argument; it’s a political argument masquerading through history.” – Rudyard Lynch
Because America was so wealthy, African-American slaves had a higher quality of living than the peasantries of Europe did; however, African-American slaves were disenfranchised from any sort of respect or social standards
“I think the British ending slavery in the 1830s and 40s is one of the most admirable things a country has done.” – Rudyard Lynch
- The West practiced slavery, but it was also a society that ended it – which is historically rare
As religions developed and spread around the globe, they eventually abolished slavery among their people

In this episode of History 102, WhatifAltHist creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg discuss the history of the Muslim slave trade, a forgotten tragedy that predates and rivals the Atlantic slave trade in both scale and brutality.

Dive into the complex dynamics and enduring impact of this dark chapter in African history, and explore the Muslim and internal slave trades while also challenging the 1619 Project's narrative. Learn about the broader context of global slavery, the complex origins of racial inequality, and the global network that fueled the transatlantic slave trade.

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RELATED EPISODE/S:
Rise of Islam: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rise-of-islam/id1730633913?i=1000659000133

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@whatifalthist (Rudyard)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:42) African Slave Trade Basics
(01:42) Misconceptions and Context
(03:20) Different African Slave Trades
(03:25) Muslim Slave Trade
(14:19) Sponsor: beehiiv | Babbel
(20:49) Comparisons with the Atlantic Slave Trade
(41:34) Impact of Slavery on America
(55:09) Slavery in Brazil and the Caribbean
(58:30) Book Recommendations
(59:10) Wrap
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

African Founders by David Hackett Fisher

Conquests and Cultures by Thomas Sowell

Africa by John Reeder

Africa and the Africans by John Thornton

The Slave Trade

Podcast Notes Playlist: Latest Episodes