Figure 1.--Photographic evidence of slavery is limited because photograohy did not appear until slavery was disappearing and for the most part masters had no desire to photograph their slaves. In the Islamic world, photography appeared several decades after it was invented and was not nearly as commom as it was in Europe. Moroccan sources believe that this photograph depicts a group of slave women and girls in Morocco, apparently photographed with their owners. Notice that the slaves are not African and seem a little lighter complexioned than the men. The photograph is not dated, but looks like the late-19th century. Islam of course had strict modesty rules for women, but these were often suspended for slaves to mark their low social status. We are guessing though that dressing like this was just in the home. Presumably when appearing in public they covered up more.

Photographic evidence of slavery is limited because photograohy did not appear until slavery was disappearing and for the most part masters had no desire to photograph their slaves. In the Islamic world, photography appeared several decades after it was invented and was not nearly as commom as it was in Europe. Moroccan sources believe that this photograph depicts a group of slave women and girls in Morocco, apparently photographed with their owners. Notice that they are photographed only with me, not the women of the household. This was obviously something decided by the men and we ae not entirely sure why. Also notice that the slaves are not African and seem a little lighter complexioned than the men. The photograph is not dated, but looks like the late-19th century. Islam of course had strict modesty rules for women, but these were often suspended for slaves to mark their low social status. We are guessing though that dressing like this was just in the home. Presumably when appearing in public they covered up more. A reader writes, " I am not sure about this question. It is very probable that these slave women were shirtless only at home. The issue od modesty and proper attire are addressed in The Holy Koran which is the basis for Islamic religious dispensations for such matters. Islamic scholars ask that the slave women cover their pelvis in puplic, in front of men not associated with their owners. In front of their owners no clothing was required under Islamic law. About 1350 the Maroccan explorer Ibn Battuta visited the emperor of Mali in Timbuktu. The Malian Empire was one of the great states of Europe. And Islamic thought had not yet overcome many traditional prctices. He writes that he was scandalized for two things he saw: 1) The free women were naked in front of the emperor. 2) The slave women were naked everywhere. I think that these is a "technical" indication: 1) In front of a male not assocuated with the family a free woman has to be full covered except face, hands and feet. There were no exception for the emperor, at least in Islamic law. 2) A slave woman has to cover the pelvis in public. Ibn Battuta was scandalized because the slaves are naked 'everywhere'. Probably he would have not been so scandalized if they were unclothed only in the emperor's palace." But this was centuries before the photographs here was taken in a much more Islamicized Morocco. Hopefully Moroccan readers can provide some insighgts on this photograph.

Created: 8:56 PM 10/27/2013
Last updated: 8:56 PM 10/27/2013