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Slave Elites in the Middle East and Africa: A Comparative Study

Edited by Toru Miura, Edited by John Edward Philips

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The institution of slavery, which prevailed throughout the Islamic area from al-Andalus to Southeast Asia over many centuries, was one of the distinguishing features of Islamic civilization. In this volume, specialists in Middle Eastern and African studies consider the practice of slavery in different regions from a comparative perspective, dealing with key issues: the ethnic origins of slave soliders and officials and the reasons for the development of the slave soldier system in comparison with non-elite slaves; the legal status of slave elites and the administrative roles of slave soliders and officials; the linguistic and cultural identity of slave elites and its relation to their society of origin and of residence; the economy of slave elites including payment and economic activities; and the relation of slave elite systems to Islamic civilization. Among the subjects covered are the Turkish military elite of Samarra, economic aspects of the 'manufacture' and sale of eunuchs, royal slavery in Kano, the concept of slavery in Ottoman and other Muslim societies and slavery, family and state in the Islamic Middle East. By focusing on similarities and differences in practice, the volume elucidates the transregionality and commonality of slave elites and Islam, and makes an important contribution to the understanding of the complexities underlying an institution of great historic interest.