Manuals of Islamic Sexual Slavery in the Medieval Period
In the medieval Islamic world (particularly from the 10th to 12th centuries), several erotic compendia (sex manuals) and slave-purchase manuals were written. These texts advised buyers on selecting, inspecting, and using female slaves, who were legally available for sexual relations under Islamic law (as concubines). One scholarly study on this topic is the paper: “Slaves […]
Ibn Battuta’s Account of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s Court During Eid
In his famous travelogue The Travels of Ibn Battuta (A.D. 1325–1354), the Moroccan explorer describes the customs at the court of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq (ruler of the Delhi Sultanate) during the festivals of Eid. Ibn Battuta writes: “Then the musicians and dancers come in. First of all, the daughters of the infidel Indian kings […]