Race And Slavery In The Middle East: An Histori... May 2026

: Unlike the rigid racial castes in the Americas, slaves in the Middle East could occasionally rise to significant power and renown, such as the Mamluk military commanders.

Reviewers from the Journal of Social History and The New York Times have praised Lewis for his detailed use of primary sources, including Arabic and Persian literature, to show how prejudice often "won out over pious sentiments". However, some critics suggest the book focuses heavily on elite households and could have benefited from a deeper look at the broader assimilation of races in Islamic empires. Race and Slavery in the Middle East - Bernard Lewis Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Histori...

: Islam restricted the methods of enslavement and encouraged the manumission (freeing) of slaves. : Unlike the rigid racial castes in the