A History of Agriculture in India v2.c62.s3.1

v2.c62.s3.1

A method of proselytization to Islam adopted by the Turks was slavery. The Ottoman Turks adopted the systems of raising troops, the Janissarries, from the Christian boys of the conquered European territories like Bulgaria and Thrace. They were delivered up each year by their parents as a form of tribute. There was a tax on every Christian family of one boy in five. They were put into Muslim schools, separated from all home or family ties, brought up in the faith of Islam, and forbidden to marry. Imbued thus with an undivided allegiance to the Ottoman Sultan and religion of Islam, upon which all their aspirations hung, when their training was completed they entered the infantry or civil service.