Talk:World History Lecture Ten

• Earlier the abolition movement, which was motivated mostly by Christianity rather than by non-Christian reform movements, wiped out slavery and slave trade worldwide by 1888.

There was a slave market at Taif, about 40 miles outside Mecca, which was not shut down until 1962. ([1] and footnote-18) People who came from all over the world on their journey to Mecca but didn't have the fare for a round trip often fell afoul of the local authorities once the festivities ended. A penniless pilgrim from far away may resort to stealing food for example, which would end up placing him on the auction block at Taif. And a rich pilgrim, before returning home could pick up a bargain-basement wife or man slave at Taif before departing. This is a line of investigation I've been following for some time, as it appears the Saudi regime agreed to ending this millenium-plus old Islamic practice in exchange for increased cooperation with the West, but it's difficult to find a source document with the exact language for closing the slave market.

Upon deeper investigation what is revealed is the trip to Mecca has long been a cover for the worldwide slave trade, and may infact still be practiced to some extent. Islamic societies did not build jails or prisons. Local troublemakers, and the "shiftless unemployed", so to speak, were often sold to slave caravans making the journey to Mecca where the highest prices could be commanded.

Bin Laden's anger at the West is in large part due to Islamic regimes, such as the House of Saud, caving in to Western pressures and breaking long held Islamic traditions and Islamic societies methods of dealing with common social problems. RobS 15:31, 11 March 2007 (EDT)

Here's another source, Islam and Slavery: The Concealed Truth, Srdja Trifkovic, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, November 14, 2003.

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