Slavery in the Ottoman Empire

In this episode, we explore the history of slavery in the Ottoman Empire and how it functioned as a central part of the empire’s economic, political, and social order. The discussion traces the ways enslaved people were acquired through conquest, the devshirme system, and far-reaching trade networks connecting Africa, Europe, and the Caucasus, while also examining the empire’s deeply layered social hierarchy. We look at the contrasting realities of Ottoman slavery, where some enslaved individuals rose to positions of major political influence while many others were subjected to lives of agricultural labor, domestic service, or sexual exploitation. The episode also considers the legal foundations of the system in both Islamic and imperial law, including the role of manumission as a recognized but limited practice, before turning to the 19th-century reform efforts and foreign pressure that challenged but did not immediately end slavery. Finally, we reflect on how the legacy of Ottoman slavery continues to shape cultural memory and descendant communities across modern Turkey and the wider region.