The Red Sea Slave Trade: Rome's Hidden Supply Chain

Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History · Sep 12, 2026 · 9m · transcript

While the Roman Empire is often celebrated for its roads and legions, a quieter, more brutal infrastructure powered its economy. This episode explores the ancient Red Sea slave trade, focusing on the port of Myos Hormos and the vital role of the Nabataeans and later Roman administrators in sourcing labor from Nubia and the Horn of Africa. We examine archaeological evidence from papyri found at Vindolanda and in Egypt that detail the movement of enslaved people across desert routes to feed the demands of Mediterranean agriculture and mining. Through the lens of figures like Trajan’s governor…