070077 UE Guided Reading Economic and Social History - Slaves and War Captives (2023W)

The primary objective of this Guided Reading course is to equip students with a sophisticated, in-depth understanding of the pivotal historical debates that center around the issues of slavery and war-related captivity in the early modern empires of Eurasia. Our focus will be particularly on the Ottoman and Habsburg empires as case studies for broader themes. This course aims to engage students through a comprehensive and comparative analysis of a wide array of primary sources, including official documents, letters, and firsthand narrative accounts of captivity. By dissecting these materials, we will work to contextualize the multifaceted social dynamics that emerged from different systems of enslavement. Specifically, we'll examine how Christian slavery in the Ottoman Empire and Muslim slavery in the Habsburg Empire were not just economic or military endeavors but were deeply enmeshed in the social and political fabric of their times. Beyond individual experiences of captivity, the course seeks to illuminate the intricate web of social and political relationships that wove together diverse communities within the Mediterranean region. To this end, we will delve into various aspects, such as trade networks, diplomatic relations, and cultural exchanges, all of which were deeply influenced by the phenomena of slavery and captivity. Through critical reading, thoughtful discussion, and analytical writing assignments, students will come away from the course with a well-rounded and nuanced understanding of the complexities that defined slavery and captivity during this significant era in world history.