From before the days of Moses up through the 1960s; slavery was a fact of life in the Middle East. Pagans; Jews; Christians; and Muslims bought and sold at the slave markets for millennia; trading the human plunder of wars and slave raids that reached from the Russian steppes to the African jungles. But if the Middle East was one of the last regions to renounce slavery; how do we account for its--and especially Islam's--image of racial harmony? How did these long years of slavery affect racial relations? In Race and Slavery in the Middle East; Bernard Lewis explores these questions and others; examining the history of slavery in law; social thought; and practice over the last two millennia.With 24 rare and intriguing full-color illustrations; this fascinating study describes the Middle East's culture of slavery and the evolution of racial prejudice. Lewis demonstrates how nineteenth century Europeans mythologized the region as a racial utopia in debating American slavery. Islam; in fact; clearly teaches non-discrimination; but Lewis shows that prejudice often won out over pious sentiments; as he examines how Africans were treated; depicted; and thought of from antiquity to the twentieth century."If my color were pink; women would love me/But the Lord has marred me with blackness;" lamented a black slave poet in Arabia over a millennium ago--and Lewis deftly draws from these lines and others the nuances of racial relations over time. Islam; he finds; restricted enslavement and greatly improved the lot of slaves--who included; until the early twentieth century; some whites--while blacks occasionally rose to power and renown. But abuses ring throughout the written and visual record; from the horrors of capture to the castration and high mortality which; along with other causes; have left few blacks in many Middle Eastern lands; despite centuries of importing African slaves.Race and Slavery in the Middle East illuminates the legacy of slavery in the region where it lasted longest; from the days of warrior slaves and palace eunuchs and concubines to the final drive for abolition. Illustrated with outstanding reproductions of striking artwork; it casts a new light on this critical part of the world; and on the nature and interrelation of slavery and racial prejudice.
#1297172 in Books 1985-02-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.30 x 1.50 x 7.90l; #File Name: 0195035755720 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The American RevolutionBy MarcusThis is a readable book about the begining of the United States. It covers the american revolution; the war of independence and the draft of the Constitution. It provides an informed account of the historical process; it's main figures and events. The difficulties faced by the americans and it's resilience toward the challenge of emancipation are well exposed. Little emphasis; though; are given to the formation of the Constitution and to the process of its ratification by the confederate states. This is the first volume of the Oxford History of the United States. Robert Middlekauff doesn't disapoint his readers. His prose is clear. His narrative enlightened.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Best Early American HistoryBy Richard P. DeranianA fairly lengthy book but is the gold standard of the early days to establish this nation. Detailed enough to be a college text but the writing is deft and never boring. You can never travel back in time but this is the next best way to experience what it was to resist the treachery of Parliament and George III to deprive Americans of their liberty and property. You will understand how the response to the Stamp Act and other coercive measures began in a respectful manner then grew more political ending in armed rebellion. Nothing is spared including the lack of support from Congress for the Continental Army; the mistakes by Washington coupled with the lack of initiative of Howe and Cornwallis led up to the successful Southern Campaign culminating in the victory at Yorktown.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great bookBy NSExcellent book and well written overall. Gives comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical reasons that gave rise to the American Revolution; as well as great descriptions of the campaigns fought during the war. Provides deeper understanding of topics you may have learned in grade school. Great fun to read. If you are looking for a one volume; comprehensive study of the American Revolution; this is your book. Only criticism I have is that I wished the author provided a bit more clarity as to what the Stamp Tax actually taxed and why Benedict Arnold changed sides. But; this criticism is mere minutia when taking into consideration the sheer magnitude of this book.
