Question

“In the past, many [Muslim] rulers have had the following practices regarding the training of military slaves (ghulam): after young male slaves had been bought for government service, they would be given gradual advancement in rank, according to their length of service, education, skill, and general merit. Thus, after a ghulam had been bought, he would serve on foot as an assistant to a cavalryman for one year. After that, he would be given a horse and trained to ride for three more years. By his fourth year, he would receive a quiver of arrows and a bow case and would start training to shoot and fight. With each passing year of loyal service, his rank and honors would be increased, as would his responsibilities. He would become a troop leader and, finally, when he turned 35 years of age and assuming he had served the ruler honorably in every respect, he would be appointed governor of a province or would become a minister. Unfortunately, this system has not been followed by rulers lately.” Nizam al-Mulk, senior adviser to the sultan of the Muslim Seljuq Empire, The Book of Government, treatise composed circa 1092 a) Identify ONE claim made in the passage. b) Identify ONE way in which the passage illustrates the development of states in the Islamic world in the period before 1450.

Answer 1

a) One claim that this passage makes is that military slaves had the chance to improve themselves and rise through the ranks of the military as long as they remained disciplined and loyal. According to the text, they would be carefully trained for years, eventually being able to become governors and ministers.

b) According to the passage, states in the Islamic world before 1450 developed by following a system that rewarded loyal slaves. However, we also learn that this system was not always followed by rulers, especially in the years before 1092.