The African Diaspora in the Mediterranean Lands of Islam

by Eve M. Troutt Powell (Editor), John O. Hunwick (Editor)

There is a rich documentary trail to follow on the topic of African slavery in the Islam of the Mediterranean, but relatively little historical work has been done on the subject. Hunwick (Northwestern U.) and Powell (U. of Georgia) seek to begin to correct the dearth of research by presenting a collection of primary materials related to the Islamic enslavement of the peoples of Central Africa. Documents are organized under the headings: basic texts on slavery, Muslim views on slavery, perceptions of Africans in Arabic and Turkish writings, slave capture, the Middle Passage, slave markets, eunuchs and concubines, domestic service, agricultural labor, military service, religion and community, freedom and post-slavery, abolition of slavery, and a slave narrative. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Genres: Islam, History

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Eve M. Troutt Powell is Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of A Different Shade of Colonialism: Egypt, Great Britain, and the Mastery of the Sudan (2003). In 2003, she was a recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Grant.

Reviews

[Habeeb Akande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important book examining the enslavement of black Africans in the Muslim world. Also has some translations of important Muslim texts dealing with the issue of slavery in Islam

[Crispus Attucks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening