Slaves from the Tamil Coast and European Trade around the World, 1547-1792

This book explores the lives of individuals who were enslaved, bought, sold, and forcibly transported across continents from the Tamil coast. It argues that the region was deeply entangled in the global slave trade through European commercial networks. Tracing the journeys of Tamil slaves to destinations such as Melaka, Manila, Macao, Mexico City, Colima, Cape Town, Mauritius, Réunion, St. Helena, and beyond – including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Europe, and North America – the study explores their social interactions, labor experiences, and forced migrations. By drawing on underutilized yet richly detailed archival sources, this volume offers new insights into transnational and global history, focusing on merchant networks, global markets, and intercontinental shipping.