Spectrum of Unfreedom: Captives and Slaves in the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire relied on the labor of captives and slaves to maintain its strength in early modern times, with slaves living in various circumstances and captives seized in raids. Leslie Peirce's book explores the voices of the unfree, drawing on archives, histories, and legal texts, and describes imperial efforts to fight against the menace of captive-taking.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 134 pages
\n Publication date: 30 June 2021
\n Publisher: Central European University Press
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The Ottoman Empire's strength in early modern times was significantly influenced by the labor of captives and slaves. In her book, "Captives and Slaves in the Ottoman Empire," Leslie Peirce explores the voices of these unfree individuals, focusing on Anatolia as the geographic center. Peirce draws on a range of sources, including archives, histories written at the time, and legal texts, to uncover the experiences and perspectives of slaves and captives.

Unfree persons were divided into two general categories: slaves and captives. Slaves, primarily household workers, lived in a wide range of conditions, from squalor to luxury. Their duties varied depending on their owner's status. While slave status could not last a lifetime, as Islamic law and Ottoman practice encouraged the freeing of slaves, it was still a significant part of many people's lives.

Captives, on the other hand, were typically seized in raids, often with the intention of disappearing forever. Their fates were often unknown, and victims rarely returned home, despite the efforts of their families and neighbors to recover them. The book delves into the factors that allowed some captives to improve the conditions of their bondage within the Ottoman environment of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Despite the widespread corruption among the states' own officials, who had their own interests in captive labor, the book describes imperial efforts to combat the menace of captive-taking. It sheds light on the complex relationships between captors and their prey, as well as the ways in which captives were represented in legend, historical literature, and law. Fortunately, both captors and their victims are present in these various forms of representation.

Overall, "Captives and Slaves in the Ottoman Empire" provides a valuable insight into the lives and experiences of captives and slaves in the Ottoman Empire. Peirce's research offers a rich and nuanced understanding of this important period of history, challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of the empire's relationship with unfree labor.

\n Weight: 186g\n
Dimension: 132 x 201 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9789633863992\n \n