ORIENTAL HAREMS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OTTOMANS AND MUGHULS

Abstract

The etymology of this word related to Arabic word “Harim” means a sacred place which is forbidden for outsiders. In Turkish word seraglio is used and in a Persian harem it is better known as Zenana. A place where women apartments are situated especially, the women of royalty and this place is not accessible for men except for the King/Sultan. In medieval Islamic world, this institution was very much common where the empire sustains this institution which has always remained mysterious and controversial. In Muslim civilisation two harems were contemporary, Mughuls and Ottomans. These two harems were over exaggerated by all travellers of Muslim world. This paper highlights the compositions of these two harems- Mughuls and Ottomans. It is the estimated study which deals with those queens who changed the fate of empires with their political sagacity and wisdom. The harem intimates of Ottomans and Mughuls who belonged to ordinary background how they raised the status of chief queens and contributed to the public and private life of Sultan/King. The critical analysis of war of succession in which harem played a decisive role created the golden chapters of medieval history which is also the part of the last section of this paper. The research method is descriptive used both primary and secondary sources to analyze the institution.