How was the Muslim slave trade in Africa similar to and different from Portugal Atlantic slave trade?

Answer 1

The Muslim slave trade in Africa, which thrived from the 7th to the 19th centuries, primarily involved the capture and forced migration of Africans within the continent and into the Middle East, focusing on domestic servitude and agricultural labor. In contrast, the Portuguese Atlantic slave trade, which began in the 15th century, transported enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to work on plantations in the Americas, particularly in Brazil. While both systems exploited African labor and involved brutal conditions, the Muslim trade often allowed for some degree of assimilation and integration into society, whereas the Atlantic trade was characterized by a more rigid racial hierarchy and dehumanization. Additionally, the scale and impact of the Atlantic slave trade were significantly greater, leading to profound demographic and social changes in the Americas.