Research Article

Crime and Punishment in the Imagery of the Great Seljuks: The Prison System

Number: 22 May 31, 2025
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Crime and Punishment in the Imagery of the Great Seljuks: The Prison System

Abstract

The Great Seljuk State centred in Nishapur, was governed by successful rulers who left a mark on history. As the state's borders expanded, it became necessary to manage people from diverse ethnic groups, leading to distant provinces being governed by either princes or governors. The rapid expansion of borders fueled the ambitions of princes to become rulers themselves, resulting in a series of uprisings. Some emirs and viziers, motivated by their interests, supported these uprisings, making the punishment of individuals a necessity. Among the various forms of punishment, imprisonment was the most actively employed method. This penal system manifested in multiple forms, including castle and house arrests. Due to the robust structure of castles, throughout history, prisons have sometimes been selected from among castles. In this context, the article aims to clarify the discussion on whether castles were suitable places for punishment by examining whether individuals who committed crimes during the Great Seljuks period were imprisoned in castles within the framework of criminal law. Additionally, the article will address whether dungeons and prisons have the same meaning or what the distinctions between them are. The process of transition from dungeons to prisons and its development within the context of penal reforms necessitates the exploration of this dilemma within the framework of the Great Seljuk Empire.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

General Turkish History (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

May 29, 2025

Publication Date

May 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 2, 2024

Acceptance Date

April 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 22

APA
Altınok, Y. S., & Coşkun, D. (2025). Crime and Punishment in the Imagery of the Great Seljuks: The Prison System. Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 22, 148-160. https://doi.org/10.29157/etusbed.1542513