The Khiva Khanate Slave Market: Central Asia's Human Trade

For centuries, the slave markets of Khiva were among the most notorious in Central Asia, funneling captives from Persia, Russia, and the steppes into the khanate's economy and military. This episode explores the mechanics of that trade: how slave raids financed the state, how enslaved Persians and Russians were ransomed or sold, and how the trade shaped Khiva's relations with its neighbors. We look at the role of the Turkmens as raiders, the abolition efforts under Russian pressure, and the lingering social effects. Along the way, we discuss key figures like Muhammad Rahim Khan II and the Russian general Konstantin von Kaufman, and the gradual suppression of the trade after the 1873 Russian conquest. A specific, unflinching look at a dark aspect of the region's history.

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