{"product_id":"stolen-boys-of-the-ottoman-empire","title":"Stolen Boys of the Ottoman Empire","description":"The infamous Ottoman devsirme-the levy and enslavement of young male subjects from the Christian regions of the empire for palace and military service by the Turks-has been traditionally understood as a mechanism of both elite recruitment and Muslim conversion. Here Charles Argo investigates the political and cultural resonance of the act itself; an act that reproduced in spectacle form Ottoman ideologies of dynastic legitimacy and political hegemony amongst its Christian subjects. Viewed thus, the levy transcends its utility as a recruitment mechanism, and becomes an important-even iconic-display of political will that significantly shaped the cultural reality for Balkan peoples under Ottoman rule. A fresh and original look at Ottoman history, this book changes the way we look at the exercise of power in pre-modern empires, and will be essential for all those interested in Ottoman and Middle East studies as well as Christian-Muslim relations, ritual, slavery and conversion.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57510089916789,"sku":"9781848856196","price":72.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781848856196.jpg?v=1787130401","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/stolen-boys-of-the-ottoman-empire","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}