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Slavery on the medieval Silk Road

Slavery on the medieval Silk Road

Claire Taylor explores the realities of slavery along the Silk Road during the Middle Ages, revealing its scale, diversity and cultural significance

Emily Briffett

Published: July 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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Slavery was a grim but omnipresent reality across the Silk Road during the Middle Ages. Speaking to Emily Briffett, Claire Taylor unpacks the complex networks of enslavement that spanned from Ireland to China, revealing how – and why – human lives were traded alongside silks and spices.

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra