The Arab slave trade is a traditional term that has historically been used to refer to several different slave trades, which have been carried out under the auspices of Arab peoples or Arab societies. The Arab slave trades are often associated or connected to the history of slavery in the Muslim world. The trans-Saharan slave trade relied on networks of all Arab, Berber, and sub-Saharan African merchants. From the 7th century to the 19th century, between 10 to 18 million Africans were enslaved by Arab slave traders. These African slaves were acquired largely through raiding and trade. The slaves were then trafficked through the Sahara desert and the Indian ocean to the Arab world.