Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Slaves Sold Wholesale in Algiers Badestan
The music is Morisco music, found on Iberian Garden, Vol. 1 by
Altramar. The piece is Muwashshah: Mā li-l-muwallah, 1113-1198.
This music takes place at the beautiful gardens along the Guadalquiver, near Cordoba.
This is during the "convivencia" under Alfonso X (El Sabio - The Wise), the time
before Granda fell: when Christians, Moslems and Jews lived at peace with each
other. Muwashshah are songs in poetic form, with instrumental interludes in the
form of Ibn Bājja (Avempace): 1470-1520. This is Morisco art.
Slaves in the bagnio, were often expected to do heavy labor on
masseries (gardens, orchards, vinyards); making houses; moving
heavy rocks to create ocean jetties, work in lime and salt mines,
etc. Such slaves were were often not watched and might attempt to
escape. To prevent such escapes, these slaves were loaded with
chains, often the chains attached to heavy iron balls or iron-boots.
Slaves so hobbled could not easily escape. During the 19th century
in the U.S. South, chain gangs with hobbled "convicts" could still
be seen!
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