The Golden Horde's Slave Trade: Captives and Currency

From The Golden Horde: Mongol Rule Over Russia Explained — Fexingo History · 10:49

Show by Fexingo

While earlier episodes explored the political mechanics of the Jochid Ulus, this episode shifts focus to the human cost of Mongol rule in Russia. We examine the systematic capture of Slavic populations during seasonal raids, a practice that transformed millions into commodities traded across the Silk Road. Lucas traces how these captives were processed through markets in Sarai and Caffa, destined for slavery in the Middle East or domestic service within the Horde itself. Luna asks about the social structures that sustained this trade and the specific roles played by intermediaries like Genoese merchants from Crimea. Together, we unpack the grim economics of the slave market, the life of a captive known as a cherkess or alman, and how this brutal industry funded the Khan’s lavish court at Sarai Berke. This is not just about conquest; it is about the machinery of exploitation that kept the Golden Horde wealthy while decimating Russian principalities. We look at primary accounts from Venetian traders and Arab geographers who documented the sheer volume of people moving through Crimean ports. By understanding the slave trade, we gain a clearer picture of why Moscow and Tver fought so hard for yarlyks—protection wasn't just about taxes, it was about survival against the raiders who viewed their people as livestock. #GoldenHorde #MongolRussia #SlaveTradeHistory #JochidUlus #SaraiBerke #CaffaGenoa #SlavicCaptives #MamaiKhan #Tokhtamysh #Yarlyk #Paiza #BatuKhan #SteppeEmpire #MedievalEconomy #CrimeanKhanate #IvanKalita #DmitryDonskoy #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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