Some people argue the fact that should the term when referring to the Ottomans "slaves", should even be the word slave. I disagree with this opinion because no matter how well or better off these slaves were under Ottoman rule they were still slaves and did not have what I consider freedom. The idea still of the treatment of these slaves was incredibly different that western and even most european civilizations. I think the reason the Ottomans may have treated their slaves and workers so differently from western cultures is because the Sultans were clever and realized this was their best bet at avoiding a riot and full on revolution from captured peoples. The United States history shows very well the process of mistreatment of slaves and the path of a revolution that follows.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Week 4
After watching a film on WWII, the subject of slavery and mistreatment of the Jewish race was what I related in my mind to the Imperial Harem. The struggle of sons and wives of the Sultans were a main point and exclamation in the book, but i feel it was the concept of slavery that I found the most relevant to current issues. Any war into the present is usually spawned from some sort of racism. I find it so amazing a civilization such as the Ottomans had such a different approach to slavery.
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I see what your saying about the differences between the Western style of slavery and the Ottoman bases. I agree and disagree. I also think there was a lot more meaning to work and phyisical labor in the colonies that was lacked in the Ottoman Empire. The only purpose of slaves on a plantation was to tend the land. During the Ottoman Era, janissaries were important, especially to the Sultan.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they should be considered slaves because they are technically not free. Perhaps if we didn't have such a negative view of slavery in America would look at this situation differently. Although i agree that maybe the title of slave can still be used in this case I don't think that slaves such as the harems should be look at in the same light as we view slaves in America. It was not so terrible but almost appealing.
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