Think As Historian: THINK AS A HISTORIAN: CONTEXTUALIZING ACROSS CULTURES

One way historians contextualize is by examining what came before and what came after an event or development within a culture (see page 14). Contextualization is also useful across cultures. To contextualize a specific development across cultures, ask: In what other cultures were there similar developments? In what ways were those developments similar to the specific development in the culture under study? In what ways were those developments different from the specific development in the culture under study? As you answer these questions, think about origins, purposes, and outcomes.

Consider the development of the devshirme system. Within the con- text of global slavery between 1450 and 1750, how was devshirme like or unlike slavery elsewhere, and why? Complete a chart like the one below to contextualize devshirme in a broader setting. Then draw a conclusion about the devshirme system.