Mısır Fātimī Devletinde Siyahi Hadımlar, Cariyeler ve Köle Askerler

Abstract

Although slavery was a common practice in medieval Muslim societies, this subject had not been studied enough. Yet, scholars recently have begun to focus on the subject of slavery in the Muslim world, and produced new academic monographs about it. As a part of this fashion, in my paper, I will try to answer how slavery was perceived and practiced in Fātimid Egypt. Particularly, I will argue that the position of African black slaves in the Fātimid Empire goes beyond the simple dichotomy of free and un-free and of black slaves and white masters. Also, I will argue that even though African black slaves were subordinated and marginalized in the Fātimid Empire, they created new opportunities for themselves and advanced into the highest positions in the Fātimid state structure. Besides, I will argue that African black slaves (eunuchs, commanders, and concubines) were not a marginal group but a dominant one that played important roles in the Fātimid political life throughout its history.