Prior to break, we read a book called the Janissary Tree. It told the story of a stream of murders through the Ottoman Empire. Investigator Yashim was set to figure out these murders. It is discovered that they were done by the Janissaries during the Janissaries' revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
The Auspicious Incident is what the novel was based on when Sultan Mahmud II was in power and made changes throughout the empire. His major change was to destry the janissaries for they were no longer protecting the people of the Ottoman Empire but causing chaos. Mamud II created a new army that was fashioned after the Europeans and ambushed the Janissaries which led to their downfall. After this time, some of the Janissaries that survived went into hiding and were forced to live te life of the rest of the people in order to simply survive.
This novel was written through the eyes of a historian who traveled the lands of the Middle East. He knew what the lands were and te customs of the people. His experiences made is novel more realistic feeling with accuret descriptions of how the people of the Ottoman Empire lived and the positions of the Janissaries and eunuchs which was what Investigator Yashim was.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Red Apple
A few week ago, we read a book titled The Red Apple. It showed the transition of a Janissary from the moment children are taken from their families, through their journey as a soldier for the Sultan and to the end when Janissaries began their revolt. It follows one child, Miguel, as he realizes that the Janissary life is not a life meant for him.
To become a Janissary, one must be between the age of 7-about 14 and of Christian decent. Muslims were not taken because the teachings of the Janissaries wanted all their soldiers to be under the same path of the faith of Islam. Taking other Muslims would cause major conflict within the army because many would have different beliefs they follow and they would not be unified.
The book was quite interesting and it was written if a fashion that was easy to read. It was written by a historian so the book held a lot of historical content that was quite accuret. I really enjoyed it.
To become a Janissary, one must be between the age of 7-about 14 and of Christian decent. Muslims were not taken because the teachings of the Janissaries wanted all their soldiers to be under the same path of the faith of Islam. Taking other Muslims would cause major conflict within the army because many would have different beliefs they follow and they would not be unified.
The book was quite interesting and it was written if a fashion that was easy to read. It was written by a historian so the book held a lot of historical content that was quite accuret. I really enjoyed it.
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