Enslaved Africans Built Ancient Agricultural System in Southern Iraq

Archaeology Magazine ^ | June 5, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Aerial view of Zanj irrigation system, Basra, Iraq

Durham University

[SunkenCiv]

[chajin]

Ol’ man river,
Euphrates River,
She dost know somethin’
But don’t say nothin’,
She just keeps rollin’,
She keeps on rollin’ along...

[alexander_busek]

Should have dug their own damned earthen ridges and canals!

Regards,

[SunkenCiv]

If only they’d just submitted to the armed hordes of the Religion of Pieces...

[SunkenCiv]

[Shocking Blue] I’m your river, I’m your Tigris...

[vpintheak]

Unpossible! Everyone knows whitey in America invented slavery! Duh!

[Nateman]

The Zanj rebellion lasted for about ten years before it was finally crushed. The conditions the slaves worked under were horrible, which is why they revolted in the first place. Since this bit of history goes against the liberal narrative most people know nothing about it.

[rfp1234]

Oh, so now the woke academics will start calling Mesopotamians “white suprermacists”.

[SunkenCiv]

The truth is, I'd never heard of it before. I'm sure that's not just part of some academic chicanery though. /s

[wardaddy]

I like the new code word ENSLAVED OR ENSLAVED PEOPLES about as well as I like using the words misogynist or homophobe

[markman46]

I for one have never heard of this at all.

[tumblindice]

Nobody know, de trubble ah seen

“Indeed, Nāṣir Khusraw saw large numbers of African slaves working in the “fields and gardens” of al-Ahsa ... “

Big Sam say when it be revoltin’ time at al-Ahsa ... revoltin time, revoltin time!

Are these people ever happy?

[House Atreides]

“ Should have dug their own damned earthen ridges and canals!

Regards,”
*************************************

The Arab Muslims typically castrated their slaves shortly after capture. Minimal chances for later demand of reparations.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#13: "Are these people ever happy?"

Not really. There was a time about 4000 years ago when they were flying biplanes around
the pyramids. That was jolly time, no mournful blues! Then the White Man came and stole their
technology. Dey jes tryin' to keep da black man down!

[Angelino97]

[Palio di Siena]

Reparations

[Governor Dinwiddie]

LOL! Hahahaha! 👍

Thanks for the perfect illustrations!!

[Paisan]

Then the White Man came and stole their
technology.

And then they ALLOWED themselves to become enslaved.

There must be some corelation between slavery and technology that I am unable to comprehend...

[Waverunner]

Except for in Wakanda, there will always be Wakanda. :)
Oh that's right, Marvel has a new White Black Panther.
Oh well...