Slaves of the Black Sea Region in Istanbul: Spatial and Social Mobility in the 17th Century

Veruschka Wagner
The research project deals with the spatial and social mobility of slaves from the Black Sea region in 17th century Istanbul. The project will trace the biographies of the slaves, who are regarded as mobile actors, from their capture through the period of enslavement to their manumission. An important aspect here is their scope of action, their relationships and networks in social and (trans)cultural interdependencies. The investigation intended to provide insights into the role of slaves in society and their potential for co-determination, in order to be able to make statements about the phenomenon of slavery and the social structure. The study is based primarily on the Istanbul court files, but also on other registers and narrative sources. Methodologically, the project pursues an historical-critical, text-analytical and collective-biographical approach.