But to answer your afrocentric question, the different empires each had their own established slave networks and infrastructure in Africa (logistics as has already been stated), see: 1  Arab slave trade. 2  Barbary slave trade. 3  Slavery in the Ottoman Empire.
Asparagus is a vegetable belonging to the lily family, which also includes onions, leeks and garlic. Eat asparagus as part of a heart-healthy diet, as it contains no fat, no cholesterol and very little sodium.
And if it's the first asparagus of the season, there will probably be enough to make up the whole dinner. Properly cooked, which is to say long enough that the asparagus is tender all the way through but quickly enough that the flavor and color haven't begun to fade, fat spears are incomparably rich and juicy. The texture is almost like a vegetable mousse, with just a slight resistance to the tooth.