Turkish Letters

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In the Turkish Letters, Ogier de Busbecq writes about the women in the Ottoman Society. He speaks about the laws and what is required out of a Turkish woman/wife. The Turks are referred to as "the most careful people in the world of the modesty of their wives." In this society they think the modesty of their wives won't be compromised if they stay shut up at home and hidden away, but if unusual circumstances arise and they have to go out into the streets, "they are sent out so covered and wrapped up in veils that they seem to those who meet them mere gliding ghosts." Men of higher rank or richer classes make it a rule that once they marry their wives can't set foot outside of their threshold. Men in this society can marry as many women as they want, but if a wife has a father of high rank, or bought a larger dowry the husband will under normal circumstances keep her as his only wife. If the husband ever gets tired of his wives they can be taken to market like a slave and sold unless she's had children with him. If that's the case she is considered free. A wife who has a portion settled on her is put in charge of the other women and they have to obey her orders. If things aren't working out between the husband and wife a divorce can be granted it's just harder for a woman to get.

I think it's biased to say that Turks are the most careful people in the world concerning their wives, but I wouldn't be surprised if they really were at this time period. This work is a viable source and very believable it was written during a time period after Islam expanded and developed in this region. This was when women's roles in this society changed for the worst. They were left with little to no rights. From all the history I would say that this is reasonably accurate.

Historian's could use this work to compare how woman today are treated, and what changes, if there are any have been made to adapt to these modern times. Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq(1522-1590), was a European diplomat who resided in the sixteenth-century Istanbul for six years. He's also known as a patron of history and literature.

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