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Christian and Negro Slavery in Eighteenth-Century North Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Norman Robert Bennett
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Extract

Slavery in eighteenth-century North Africa, as described in the literature of that era, is the main theme of this paper. However, as the eighteenth century gives an arbitrary division to our topic, the scope of this study has been enlarged. The account of Morocco begins with the reign of Mulay Isma'il (1672–1727) and extends through that of Mulay Sliman (1792–1822). As conditions were much the same throughout both of these rulers' reigns, any division would be meaningless. The account of slavery in Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli has been extended in the same manner. The period of the latter eighteenth century was one of decline for all three of these Muslim states. Conditions remained the same until the period of time around 1820. Then naval action by Lord Exmouth, and diplomatic pressure by the combined European powers practically put an end to the holding of Christian slaves.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , January 1960 , pp. 65 - 82
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1960

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