Slavery in the Ottoman society in XV.th century

In this study which we name as slavery in the Ottoman Society in XVth century, the slavery and concubinage have been dealt with their various aspects. Slavery which is as old as the history of humanity, is in a sense domination of the weak by the strong. For this reason, it is a state which limits the rights and freedom of a human being and which is contrary to him. The slavery is rather widespread in old civilizations. Even, there are states where the reasons for slavery amount to 9-10. It is a reality observed that in the states related to the Eastern and Western civilization groups and founded in old times, slaves were not much valued elements. There are limitations imposed to slavery by the Islam law. Islamism reduced to two the reasons of slavery as putting in slavery status as a result of birth and combat. Theoretically, the main purpose of Islamismon this matter, was to end slavery in the course of time. All of men taken as prisoners during war, were not made slaves. This was only one of the five powers given on this matter to the head of state, and here also there was a condition of protecting the public benefit. The basic verses in the Koran related with slavery and the implementation of this Holiness the Prophet according to their subjects, are clear samples of this matter. The Islam law has encouraged freeing slaves. The prisoners taken as a result of the conquests made in XVth century by the Ottoman State, were put in slave status and used inIV palaces and homes of individuals of the community, their fields and other services along with the military, administrative and agricultural services. In the Ottoman Empire which took as a basis the implementations of the Islam law, implementations were developed of which there were no examples in the earlier Islam States. Whether or not these implementation is in Contrast with the Islam law, is a subject matter being discussed. The treatmen of slaves in the Ottoman Empire, is not in human as it was in the earlier civilizations. The serfs observed in XV.th century and first half of XVIth century, are the single examples to be compared with the European feudality. Slaves in the Ottoman Empire were not only very lucky but also in a bad state depending on the place and time. It was also observed that these men were exploited at times. However, it as a reality that many times they were living in much better conditions in comparison with human beings in the west sharing the same destiny.