Asian Review of Books Justin Marozzi, "Captives and Companions: A History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World" (Pegasus Books, 2025)
Nov 13, 2025
Justin Marozzi, a historian and former foreign correspondent, discusses the overlooked history of slavery in the Islamic world. He explores the diverse roles of slaves, from agricultural workers to elite concubines and soldiers. Marozzi delves into racial dynamics, examining the contrast between medieval racism and Islamic ideals. He also discusses the complex legacies of slavery, including the perspective on concubinage and the enduring impacts of Barbary piracy. The conversation uncovers varied modern attitudes towards this painful history.
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Slavery Was Multi-Functional In Muslim Worlds
- Slavery in Muslim societies covered a far broader range of roles than the Atlantic plantation model.
- Slaves served as domestic workers, concubines, eunuchs, and elite soldiers across centuries.
Diverse Origins Of Enslaved People
- Most enslaved people came from sub-Saharan Africa but sources expanded to the Caucasus and Balkans under the Ottomans.
- Circassian women and Caucasian youths were taken into Ottoman harems and administrative service.
Law Versus Lived Racial Prejudice
- Islamic law formally rejected racial hierarchy but medieval Arab and Persian writers often expressed racist views about Africans.
- A gap existed between egalitarian religious ideals and everyday discriminatory practice.
