The Role of Islam in African Slavery

The Role of Islam in African Slavery Slavery has been rife throughout all of ancient history. Most, if not all, ancient civilizations practiced this institution and it is described (and defended) in early writings of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It was also practiced by early societies in Central America and Africa. The Quran prescribes a humanitarian approach to slavery: free men could not be enslaved, and those faithful to foreign religions could live as protected persons, dhimmis, under Muslim rule (as long as they maintained payment of taxes called Kharaj and Jizya). However, the spread of the Islamic Empire resulted in a much harsher interpretation of the law. For example, if a dhimmi was unable to pay the taxes they could be enslaved, and people from outside the borders of the Islamic Empire were considered an acceptable source of slaves. Although the law required owners to treat slaves well and provide medical treatment, a slave had no right to be heard in court (testimony was forbidden by slaves), had no right to property, could marry only with permission of their owner, and was considered to be a chattel, that is the (moveable) property, of the slave owner. Conversion to Islam did not automatically give a slave freedom nor did it confer freedom to their children. Whilst highly educated slaves and those in the military did win their freedom, those used for basic duties rarely achieved freedom. In addition, the recorded mortality rate was high this was still significant even as late as the nineteenth century and was remarked upon by western travelers in North Africa and Egypt. Slaves were obtained through conquest, tribute from vassal states, offspring (children of slaves were also slaves, but since many slaves were castrated this was not as common as it had been in the Roman empire), and purchase. The latter method provided the majority of slaves, and at the borders of the Islamic Empire vast number of new slaves were castrated ready for sale. The majority of these slaves came from Europe and Africa there were always enterprising locals ready to kidnap or capture their fellow countrymen. Black Africans were transported to the Islamic empire across the Sahara to Morocco and Tunisia from West Africa, from Chad to Libya, along the Nile from East Africa, and up the coast of East Africa to the Persian Gulf. This trade had been well entrenched for over 600 years before Europeans arrived, and had driven the rapid expansion of Islam across North Africa. By the time of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of slaves were obtained by raiding in Africa. Russian expansion had put an end to the source of exceptionally beautiful female and brave male slaves from the Caucasians the women were highly prized in the harem, the men in the military. The great trade networks across North Africa were as much to do with the safe transportation of slaves as other goods. An analysis of prices at various slave markets shows that eunuchs fetched higher prices than other males, encouraging the castration of slaves before export. Documentation suggests that slaves throughout Islamic world were mainly used for menial domestic and commercial purposes. Eunuchs were especially prized for bodyguards and confidential servants; women as concubines and menials. A Muslim slave owner was entitled by law to use slaves for sexual pleasure. As primary source material becomes available to Western scholars, the bias towards urban slaves is being questioned. Records also show that thousands of slaves were used in gangs for agriculture and mining. Large landowners and rulers used thousands of such slaves, usually in dire conditions: of the Saharan salt mines, it is said that no slave lived there for more than five years.1 References Bernard Lewis ​Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry, Chapter 1 Slavery, Oxford Univ Press 1994.

What I Learned Traveling in Israel without a Tour Bus

What I Learned Traveling in Israel without a Tour Bus On May 1st, I did something I haven’t done in over 10 years: I got on a plane and flew to a foreign country. I had been to Israel before, but only on pre-programmed tours. Here are some snippets of what I learned as a solo traveler traveling in Israel, visiting friends and giving a presentation as an international speaker at Google Campus Tel Aviv: Day 1: Arrival When traveling in Israel, it pays to have an official European style adapter for a MacBook Pro charger. The only way I could get my charger to work was to find a diagonal plug or a power strip on the ground. Anything else would not hold the bulky charger. Day 2: Hod Hasharon Get oriented. And don’t wander out on a 103-degree day without a hat and sunglasses, without knowing in which direction to take the bus. Don’t be shy about calling your friend for help. She will be willing to take you to the bus stop and save you from sunstroke. The buses don’t come on time. Don’t expect them to. Sometimes you’ll just need to take a taxi. The taxis don’t take credit cards, but they’ll accept U.S. dollars. When attending a yoga class in Hebrew, it’s a good idea to tell the yoga instructor that you don’t speak Hebrew. She’ll be much more likely to throw in English as necessary. Sh’efa, ven’shifah = Breathe in, Breathe out Thought you could get mixed greens in Israel that don’t include arugula? Think again. The buses don’t come on time in the afternoon either. Day 3: Swimming, Shopping and Shabbat If you’re nice to the lifeguard at the outdoor pool at the moshav, he’ll let you in for free, even if you’re not a member. The Central Bus Station in Jerusalem is like a small city. Be sure to have a shekel on hand to use the restroom! â€Å"King (Melech) Halvah† has the best halvah in Israel. And they give tastes! The dates in Israel are 10x better than anything you’ll get in the States. Don’t keep walking in sandals after they have worn a cut on your foot. The bike path in Jerusalem is beautiful, bordered by lavender and rosemary, and a lovely place to walk on Friday night. Do not expect to eat Shabbat dinner before 9pm, and do not expect it to be over until midnight. Expect deep conversation. Light your own set of candles if you’re in Israel for Shabbat, even if at first you think it’s okay to bless candles lit by someone else. Day 4: Shabbat in the Old City and Ein Karem Sleeping late on Saturday is the way to go after a late Shabbat dinner. Those yoga videos you purchased on special and downloaded onto your computer? They are great for a country that shuts down on Saturdays! There are stores and restaurants open on Saturdays in Jerusalem!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The stones on the walkways in the Old City are treacherously slippery. If your shoes slip, wear bare feet. You might offend some people, but at least you will not wipe out. When you see a door you are compelled to open, open it and wander in. You might be surprised at what you find. And your friend who didn’t want to see the art exhibit might just end up having multiple people she knows in common with the artist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If you ask someone if you can pick fruit from their loquat tree, they will probably say yes. Loquats are delicious and pair well with those amazing dates. Always have cash on hand when traveling in Israel. Machines that are supposed to accept credit cards, well, sometimes don’t. Day 4: Dancing and Yad Vashem When assisting at a movement class for the elderly in Jerusalem, wear a high-cut top or some of the ladies might get offended. The men have no problem with it. Plan to spend a whole day at Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) when traveling in Israel. The hours of testimonials are riveting. Four hours just isn’t enough. Don’t put money on your â€Å"Rav Kav† (transportation card) on the Jerusalem light rail if you want to use the money for a bus in Tel Aviv. Day 5: Joy Gym This is the land of the Bible. Where there is lightning, there could be hail. Be on the lookout for shelter. You can run into some interesting characters at Joy Gym in Hod Hasharon, including Eli Danker, an Israeli actor who teaches acting to Martha Graham dancers in New York, and usually plays a terrorist. You can look him up on IMDb. â€Å"Itzuvlates† with Rotem at Joy Gym is one of the best and most challenging fitness classes you’ll ever find! â€Å"Itzuv† means sculpting – so Itzuvlates is a combo sculpting and Pilates. The instructor is really encouraging too! There really is no way to get those light rail tickets converted to normal money on the Rav Kav. Try as you might. The 8-hour time difference between the US and Israel is great for freedom in the mornings; not so great for having any freedom in the evenings or for going to bed at a decent hour! If you take the bus to an address but it’s in the wrong city, you will be very late getting to your cousins’ house and probably not get to play with the baby. A 10-minute car ride can take an hour on 3 buses. Oy. Day 6: Artists and Eateries If you’re in Tel Aviv on a Tuesday, be sure to go to the Artist’s Market. You’ll find some beautiful objects there! I bought a Shabbat set that holds tealights instead of the tall white candles I grew up with, and a turquoise scarf with butterflies! Then wander over to Ouzeria, a restaurant with a Greek twist, patronized by locals – best food I had while I was in Israel! Office buildings in Tel Aviv can look like this: Bargaining is all about the facial expression. Biggest win: A chunk of halvah knocked down from 45nis (shekels) to 30nis. Score! Day 7: Google Campus Tel Aviv Office buildings in Israel can also look like this:   Ã‚   Israelis can be an enthusiastic and challenging crowd! Networking meetings can be set up on a dime. I met the next day with a recruiter who attended my presentation! The Mexican chocolate popsicles at the Sarona Mall are worth the trip. Day 8: Final Day It doesn’t take long to make friends at the gym. Eli Danker was there again! It’s possible to live in Israel without speaking a word of Hebrew. I met another client who lives there and works for the U.S. federal government and she knows one phrase: â€Å"Tax receipt†! Landver might be a chain, but they have really great food, from salads to smoothies to pasta. Yoga classes at Joy Gym are not for advanced students. Stick to EllaYoga! A gathering of 6-8 people can be created on a dime. People show up! Lovely evening at the outdoor seating at Landver. Day 9: Farewell Israel! Taxis come 15 minutes early in Hod Hasharon. Better than 15 minutes late! Your friends in Israel will want you to move there. Refrigerator magnets at the airport are a great way to spend those last shekels. Leaving Israel feels sad. Already looking forward to the next trip. L’hitraot (until we see each other again)! Category:Blog ArticleBy Brenda BernsteinMay 15, 2018 10 Comments Maitri Meyer says: May 15, 2018 at 10:22 am AWESOME Trip! Thanks so much for sharing the tips you learned along the way Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 15, 2018 at 11:07 am Thanks Maitri! I added one more line: Remember youre in the land of the Bible. Where theres lightning, there could be hail. Find cover! Log in to Reply Rebecca Herson says: May 15, 2018 at 12:16 pm Great post! Glad to see some of our joint activities made the cut (mmm Mexican chocolate popsicles). And yes, you should definitely move here! Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 15, 2018 at 12:19 pm Thanks Rebecca! Of course our joint activities made the cut they were some of the best parts of my trip. Im glad we were able to spend so much time together! Log in to Reply Hayden Fink says: May 15, 2018 at 2:13 pm Israel is an exciting place to visit. I am glad that you had a positive experience and enjoyed your time there. Thanks for sharing the pics and details from your trip! Next time try and visit Safed, one of my favorite places in Israel. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 15, 2018 at 2:15 pm Thank you, Hayden! Yes Ive heard Safed is a wonderful place to spend Shabbat I will definitely go there next time! Log in to Reply Barry Shrut says: May 15, 2018 at 2:43 pm Thanks so much for sharing. Beautiful pix and you rekindled memories of our family trip to Israel about 8 years ago. We booked a private guide and had an exquisite time, visiting Tel Aviv, Haifa, Golan Heights, Beit Shean, Jerusalem and Dead Sea. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 15, 2018 at 3:11 pm Youre welcome, Barry. That sounds like a beautiful trip! Next time I will try to visit more of those sites. I did go to many of them in my previous trips, but that was a long time ago! Log in to Reply Vladimir Starov says: May 16, 2018 at 11:40 am Wonderful notes from your trip! I learned new tips although I visited Israel 7-8 times in the past, the last time almost 10 years ago. Time to go back and visit Landver! Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 16, 2018 at 11:50 am Thanks for your comment, Vladimir. Im sure you would teach me a lot more everyones experience is unique and worth sharing! Log in to Reply

The Disappearing Data Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Disappearing Data Center - Essay Example In addition, the system should have adequate authentication, access control and administration. The company should therefore examine the authentication options that are available, for instance, whether the system has trusted proxy, good security measures and so on. Comparatively, should access whether the technology and hosting are fit for purpose and is scalable. The company should determine whether the hardware is modern, reliable, the development cycle of the system, its ease in integrating with other systems and so on. Therefore, in a nut shell, when deciding where to host their system, the companies should evaluate the system’s navigation and interface, content production and workflow, authentication, access control and administration, and the fitness level of the technology and hosting. Other considerations could comprise of whether the operating system, scripting software and server software meet the purpose of the company. Many small businesses are moving towards cloud computing as a way of saving their costs and attaining sophisticated and powerful hardware (Plant 2009). However, there are several issues surrounding moving a company’s data center to the cloud computing. Some of the issues facing companies that have opted for cloud computing include the following;- First, cloud computing brings with it issues to deal with the security of the company’s data transfer. This is because all the information that travels between the company network and the cloud passes through the and therefore there is a chance that hackers could distort it. Due to this, the management should ensure that their systems are well secured through the use of internet security measures such as encryption, proxy, industry standard protocols and so on. Equally important, the use of software interfaces could be a major issue affecting cloud computing. The use of a weak set of software interface could expose the company to various

Milky way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Milky way - Essay Example 324). As one looks at the night sky, they observe a hazy band of white light that they always infer to be the Milky Way. Apparently, this is not true because every star and celestial body seen by the naked eye in the night sky all belong in the Milky Way. However, the band of white light comes about as a result of the accumulation of unresolved stars and other materials. A dark region can also be observed within the white band. The shaded area corresponds to blocked light from the distant star by interstellar dust. The Milky Way mainly consists of a bulging center and a spiral disk. The spiral disk can further be classified into a thin and thick disk. The flat disk rises about a 1000 light years below and above the galactic mid-plane, and the thick disk extends to about 3500 light years on both sides of the plane. When one considers the flatness of the galaxy then the galactic disk is said to be 120,000 light-years across. Our sun is about 28,000 light-years from the galactic center within the thin disk. There is also a halo that surrounds the entire disk, but it is not visible because of its dark matter composition. The Milky Way consists of many stars. These stars vary in lots of ways, from their individual size to their composition. The stars also vary depending on where they are found within the galactic disk, for example, those in the halo differ from those found on the disk. Consequently, they are said to belong to different stellar population. The mass of a star also translates to its life span; their weight is usually measured in terms of solar mass. The lighter the solar mass the longer the stars life span. The Milky Way is just one galaxy in a collection of a group of galaxies called the Local group. The Milky Way moves at 300 km/sec in the direction of the constellation Virgo. The Milky Way is in constant movement with the other galaxies in the Local Group. The galaxies found within the local

The Lying Witches and the Downfall of Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Lying Witches and the Downfall of Macbeth      Ã‚   A false statement or a statement intended to deceive someone is known as a lie.   Of course, there are many different types of lies. There are those blatant lies that have no truth in them whatsoever, lies of omission, and half-truths.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, evil witches deceive their victim, Macbeth, by telling him half-truths about his prophecies.   As a result of this new "half-true" knowledge, Macbeth makes rash decisions that lead him to paranoia, grief, and eventually his downfall.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first set of prophecies that the witches reveal to Macbeth in act 1, scene 3, stated that Macbeth was to become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and finally be crowned king.   They also said, "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none."   Macbeth was shocked when the first two prophecies came true.   In act 1, scene 3, he spoke of his fears, saying "unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs." In Elizabethan times, witches were known as creatures of the devil, satanic creatures who roam the world to cause destruction and chaos.   But how could devils speak of great truths? Macbeth's new knowledge was then reported to his wife.   He writes about how he will become king.   But how would he do this?   One of Macbeth's rash decisions was to murder the present King.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Macbeth had invited the King and the King's men to his castle to celebrate the victory of the battle that had been won.   That night, while everyone was asleep, Macbeth took a dagger and killed the King. After the murder he became very paranoid.   In act 2, scene 2, he cries: "Didst thou not hear a noise? ...There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried `murder!', Methought I heard a voice cry `Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'...I am afraid to think what I have done; look on't again I dare not."      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Macbeth become king. As a result of his Paranoia, he called upon murderers to execute Banquo, a friend of his that knew about the prophecies.   Paranoia had taken over his life so much that his wife was left out of his plans.   He had become so paranoid, his feelings had become numb. This is shown in act 5, scene 5, when he says: "I have almost forgot the taste of fears: The time has been, my senses would have cool'd to hear a night-shriek.

Quotes for Zorba the Greek

Journal Entry #1 Quote: â€Å"the only way to save yourself is to endeavor to save others? † Page: 5 In life there are times when people cannot only focus on themselves. In order to move on, and fulfill life’s destiny you must help those that surround you. One cannot truly understand who they are and why they were brought to earth unless they consider helping those around them. Helping others teaches you to become more understanding patient, and sympathetic toward others. You initially free yourself of any conflict between others and help them as well. Journal Entry #2 Quote: â€Å"I’d believe in God, and I’d believe in the devil, too† Page: 54 God is considered a supernatural creator and overseer of the universe, while the devil is considered a powerful entity and the epitome of all things evil. Life is never completely perfect; there will always be a glimpse of evil. In order to believe in God you have to believe there is a devil. When I first saw these words I was taken a back; how can one believe in God yet still follow the devil. I then realized that though the God and Devil are completely opposites they both combine to make on just like the yin and yang. Journal Entry #3 Quote: â€Å"I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness† Page: 80 Today in the 21st century we are easily amused by what money can buy us even if it costs a fortune. Yet when you take a break from all the money spending and spend time with friends, nature, and family it is easy to see that you can find happiness everywhere especially the smallest things. You do not have to be economically viable in order to find happiness. Journal Entry # 4 Quote: â€Å"Woe to him who wants to please others! † Page: 182 Today in the 21st century we would read this quote as ‘warning to him who wants to please others. ’ Too often does one get teased upon for helping those in need. This quote further proves that when one person tries to please everyone they get overwhelmed with despair. Another way to read this is that when you constantly try to please others you never help yourself or make yourself happy so you continuously thrust sadness upon yourself. Journal Entry # 5 Quote: â€Å"That’s the road to take; find the absolute rhythm and following it with absolute trust. † Page: 233 As teenagers we are always told that everyone has a talent, when we grow older everyone tells us to pick a job that will support you financially. Sometimes ones talent will not support you financially such as an artist, photographer, or dancer. Yet this quote tells us to find our talent find something we like to do and stick with it. In other words go with your gut feeling. Zorba the Greek Poem: Narrator’s perspective Night had fallen, The sky was pitch – black. Thinking to myself It’s over. God is no longer with us. Laying down in a bunk next to a man, Once a complete stranger is now considered family. I was afraid of finding myself alone one evening I lay down in my new bed, reflecting on my new life. I remember the books and how they comforted me, I remember my precious Friend. Never shall I forget the last moment we shared. Whenever I happened to dream of a better world I imagined myself in the hands of my friend surrounded by life. Awakened from such a beautiful lie, I tell myself don’t let your self be overcome by lies. To believe meant I was weak. Everyday I knew an adventure was waiting for me. The nights were unbearable. Every night was filled with silence. Silence that broke my heart. Night. It was my time to think, To think of my books and my friend. To think of Zorba, and our spontaneous friendship. Most of all to think of what I will become. Night had fallen The sky was pitch – black Laying in a bunk next to a man, Thinking to myself. I am no longer who I used to be. I am no longer the awkward bookworm.

Physics Assessmrnt - 850 Words

Question 1(10 marks) Comment the following statements (a) The volume coefficient of thermal expansion of water is negative for temperatures in the range 0 to 4  °C. (b) The triple point of water, 0.01  °C, and 611.73 Pa, is one of the primary fixed points on the Kelvin absolute temperature scale. (c) The volume coefficient for the thermal expansion of a solid is twice the linear coefficient for thermal expansion. (d) A temperature of 26.85  °C is the same as 300 K. (e) The surface temperature of the sun (3142  °C) is the highest temperature found in nature. Question 2 (10 marks) A sample of an unknown gas (gas A) has a volume of 3.2 m3 at a temperature of 10  °C. Another sample of an unknown gas (gas B) has a volume of 4.5 m3 at a†¦show more content†¦(b) What is the required capacitance of the defibrillator? Question 8 (15 marks) In a region of space there is a uniform magnetic field of magnitude 0.25mT pointing vertically straight down. (a) If an electron is moving in the horizontal plane at a speed of 550 kms−1, what will the radius of the resultant circular path be? (b) Will the electron be moving clockwise or counter-clockwise when viewed from above? (c) If a positron (same mass as an electron but with a charge of +qe ) is moving in the horizontal plane at speed of 550 kms−1, what will the radius of the resultant circular path be? (d) Will the positron be moving clockwise or counter-clockwise when viewed from above? (e) How fast would an ï  ¡ particle () need to be travelling to have a path of the same radius as the electron in part