Zanj Rebellion

The Zanj Rebellion (869-883 AD) was a major revolt by enslaved workers, primarily of African descent, in what is now Iraq. The rebels, known as the Zanj, fought against the harsh conditions of labor on salt flats and plantations owned by wealthy Arab landowners. Led by a leader named Ali ibn Muhammad, the rebellion challenged the authority of the Abbasid Caliphate. Though ultimately suppressed, it highlighted issues of slavery, social injustice, and the struggle for freedom in medieval Islamic society, leaving a lasting impact on the region's history and future uprisings.