New Books Network 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 journalist, delves into the complex history of slavery in the Islamic world, illuminating roles from slave soldiers to concubines. He discusses the diverse origins of slaves, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa and the Balkans. Marozzi contrasts Islamic ideals of equality with the reality of racial prejudice and highlights the significant roles of eunuchs in society. He also examines the legacy of Barbary piracy and how Muslim societies today view this historical practice, revealing varied contemporary responses.
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Slavery Was Broad And Varied
- Slavery in Muslim societies covered a wide range of roles beyond plantation labor, including domestic service, concubinage, eunuchs, and slave soldiers.
- These elite forms often leave richer historical records, skewing modern perceptions of slavery's typical experience.
Wide Geographic Sources Of Slaves
- Slave origins in the Islamic world were geographically broad but largely from sub-Saharan Africa, with significant numbers from the Caucasus and Balkans under the Ottomans.
- Different regions supplied slaves for distinct roles, like Circassian women for elite harems and Africans for many other labor types.
Law Versus Racial Practice
- Islamic law formally rejected racism, but major medieval Arab and Persian writers often expressed racist views toward Africans in practice.
- The divergence between legal principle and social behavior recurs across the history Marozzi examines.
