Spanning over 623 years, the Ottoman Empire was known for numerous elements ranging from their Sultanate reigns to extraordinary ancient architecture. However, what really caught the attention of many was the concept of slavery that the Ottomans applied. Unlike other slaves known in history, the Ottoman Empire slaves were white and were subject to objectification, brutal tactics, and much worse. While the Ottoman Empire did follow Islamic beliefs, which prohibited slavery, the rulers at that time had created harsh circumstances for the slaves. Circumstances that were more shocking than you think…

When one wants to put the topic of white slavery in the Ottoman Empire, one should know that this was completely different from the one in other Empires. Unlike American slavery, this was practiced under the strict rules and regulations of Islamic law. Slaves were considered property in the Ottoman Empire and according to the Islamic Holy Book Quran, slaves should be treated gently, with no distinction based on color or creed.

The laws were recognized, and the slaves were treated much more gently than other brutal masters. Most of the time, the master would even free their slaves to acquire tranquility of the soul.

However, when we see slaves, white female slaves were usually given elite tasks or positions in the house or the Harem; they would serve as the waitress of their mistress or adorn their mistress. African or black slaves, on the other hand, were given inferior tasks. Hence, the white slaves were in better condition than the black ones.