Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Mediterranean coasts of Europe lived in constant fear of the Barbary slave raids. North African pirates, known as corsairs, launched relentless attacks on villages from Italy to Iceland, capturing thousands of men, women, and children. These victims were sold into slavery in the bustling markets of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. While the transatlantic slave trade is well-known, the story of Europeans being enslaved in North Africa is often overlooked, yet it profoundly shaped the history and psyche of coastal communities (via BBC News).
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