Morgan Clelland
HIST 457 – Comparative Empires
Question Two
Empires are complex entities where the central state exerts sovereignty over peripheral
states that are not seen as an integral part of the central state. When studying the operation of
these empires, numerous characteristics must be considered and compared with one another. For
the Spanish New World and Ottoman Empires, slavery is one characteristic that presents itself
for meaningful comparison. Both empires obtained services through the provision of forced labor
and experienced the difficulties of incorporating enslaved workers into society. However, there
are unique aspects concerning the impact that slavery had upon each empire. Distinct features for
the Ottoman Empire included providing the enslaved with respect and opportunity for
advancement. Unique aspects for the Spanish New World Empire included carrying out the
process of slavery with brutal methods. In the end, the two empires should be regarded as similar
for building slavery upon previously existing institutions and never achieving full integration of
the enslaved, but also different for the treatment of the enslaved.
Slavery within the Ottoman Empire applied to people known as janissaries. Janissaries
were the best foot soldiers in the empire and came into imperial service by special requirement.
Imperial law allowed for the forcible recruitment of young male subjects outside of Islamic
religion into the service of the sultan. 1 It should be noted that the janissaries technically did not
fall under the category of slaves. Religious law provided no allowances for any subjects of the
sultan to become enslaved unless special circumstances applied. These special circumstances
entailed following another religion and rebelling against the government, which was not
1
Suraiya Faroqhi, The Ottoman Empire: A Short History (Princeton: Markus Werner Publishers, 2009), 47.
, something that anyone accused the janissaries of doing.2 To avoid the complexities of religious
law, Ottoman officials declared that the janissaries were people that the sultan specially
appointed for imperial service.3
Slavery within the Spanish New World Empire applied to the native populace under the
system of encomienda. The system granted settlers the right to demand labor service from Indian
chiefs who assigned groups of tribesmen for service as virtual slaves. 4 Encomienda itself was not
something entirely new for the settlers. The practice could be traced back to the times of
medieval Spain when peasants placed themselves under the protection of lords in exchange for
the provision of services.5 The system found its way into the New World when Columbus
allowed small numbers of settlers to exploit native labor during the early years of exploration.
The practice of encomienda expanded over time to include greater numbers of settlers and native
laborers under them. This expansion was significant for laying the foundations of extensive
debate over the treatment of the indigenous population.
The service of janissaries was important for building upon practices that had already been
in place. During medieval times, eastern rulers employed the tradition of using slaves or former
slaves under their authority for military functions. 6 This practice provided some justification for
the sultan when requiring the recruitment of young male subjects for janissary service. The claim
of following well established practices from the past could be asserted. In addition, the military
service of young children outside of Islamic religion was important for falling under imperial
efforts to strengthen the empire. Selecting these children removed the possibility that competing
2
Faroqhi, 48.
3
Faroqhi, 48.
4
William Maltby, The Rise and Fall of the Spanish Empire (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), 27.
5
Maltby, 9.
6
Faroqhi, 48.
HIST 457 – Comparative Empires
Question Two
Empires are complex entities where the central state exerts sovereignty over peripheral
states that are not seen as an integral part of the central state. When studying the operation of
these empires, numerous characteristics must be considered and compared with one another. For
the Spanish New World and Ottoman Empires, slavery is one characteristic that presents itself
for meaningful comparison. Both empires obtained services through the provision of forced labor
and experienced the difficulties of incorporating enslaved workers into society. However, there
are unique aspects concerning the impact that slavery had upon each empire. Distinct features for
the Ottoman Empire included providing the enslaved with respect and opportunity for
advancement. Unique aspects for the Spanish New World Empire included carrying out the
process of slavery with brutal methods. In the end, the two empires should be regarded as similar
for building slavery upon previously existing institutions and never achieving full integration of
the enslaved, but also different for the treatment of the enslaved.
Slavery within the Ottoman Empire applied to people known as janissaries. Janissaries
were the best foot soldiers in the empire and came into imperial service by special requirement.
Imperial law allowed for the forcible recruitment of young male subjects outside of Islamic
religion into the service of the sultan. 1 It should be noted that the janissaries technically did not
fall under the category of slaves. Religious law provided no allowances for any subjects of the
sultan to become enslaved unless special circumstances applied. These special circumstances
entailed following another religion and rebelling against the government, which was not
1
Suraiya Faroqhi, The Ottoman Empire: A Short History (Princeton: Markus Werner Publishers, 2009), 47.
, something that anyone accused the janissaries of doing.2 To avoid the complexities of religious
law, Ottoman officials declared that the janissaries were people that the sultan specially
appointed for imperial service.3
Slavery within the Spanish New World Empire applied to the native populace under the
system of encomienda. The system granted settlers the right to demand labor service from Indian
chiefs who assigned groups of tribesmen for service as virtual slaves. 4 Encomienda itself was not
something entirely new for the settlers. The practice could be traced back to the times of
medieval Spain when peasants placed themselves under the protection of lords in exchange for
the provision of services.5 The system found its way into the New World when Columbus
allowed small numbers of settlers to exploit native labor during the early years of exploration.
The practice of encomienda expanded over time to include greater numbers of settlers and native
laborers under them. This expansion was significant for laying the foundations of extensive
debate over the treatment of the indigenous population.
The service of janissaries was important for building upon practices that had already been
in place. During medieval times, eastern rulers employed the tradition of using slaves or former
slaves under their authority for military functions. 6 This practice provided some justification for
the sultan when requiring the recruitment of young male subjects for janissary service. The claim
of following well established practices from the past could be asserted. In addition, the military
service of young children outside of Islamic religion was important for falling under imperial
efforts to strengthen the empire. Selecting these children removed the possibility that competing
2
Faroqhi, 48.
3
Faroqhi, 48.
4
William Maltby, The Rise and Fall of the Spanish Empire (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), 27.
5
Maltby, 9.
6
Faroqhi, 48.
