"The Golden Cage" - Imperial Life in the Ottoman Harem Working Over Time

Join Karen and her guest Jem Duducu for a conversation about a unique element of the Ottoman Empire- a central but often misconstrued aspect of this traditional Muslim household - called the harem - and the sometimes surprising influence it had on Ottoman politics. The members of the harem - the sultan’s many wives, concubines, and servants - were enmeshed in a dizzying web of responsibilities and - for those savvy enough - unique opportunities for political maneuvering in a world where the alternative to being attached to the Ottoman ruling machinery was… well, pretty much, yikes. (recorded over zoom)You can listen to Jem's Condensed Histories @: https://shows.acast.com/condensed-histories