1544, Bezesten

After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, the island of Zakynthos,
                                                 [was held by the Kingdom of Naples, the Ottoman Turks,
and by the Republic of Venice (traditionally known as La Serenissima)

    [when the island was developed with public works, as sewage works and waterworks.

Five French galleys under Captain Polin, accompanied Barbarossa's fleet,
                [on a diplomatic mission to Suleiman, anchored in the Island on July 22 ,1544.
and the French priest Jérôme Maurand's who accompanied Captain Polin,
                            [described the life of the enslaved Greek inhabitants whο in every war
groaning under a different master from the time when Greece

             [was   conquered first by the Romans and many others followed without stopping.

Travelers like Gassot, Canaye, Sieur, in Constantinople felt disgusted by the occupiers 

              [and their brutal attitude….. of humanism and culture, an embarrassing dropping.

In a place call Bezesten they sell an infinite number of poor Christian slaves of both sex,

                                                                       [in the same manner in which they sell horses.

Perhaps Bezesten was one of the myriad causes that led to the fall of the Ottoman Empire

                                                                          [after the unification of the European forces.

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 to be continued

* ''IT COULD BE OTHERWISE in verse''
Texts and Narration: Odysseus Heavilayias - ROTTERDAM //
Language adjustments and text adaptation: Kellene G Safis -CHICAGO//
Digital adaptation and text editing: Cathy Rapakoulia Mataraga - PIRAEUS //
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*Sieur de Stochove : Voyage du Sieur de Stochove (1643, vol) combines a history and geography of Ottoman territories

*Jules Gassot : French scholarly traveler

*Philippe du Fresne-Canaye accompanied the secretary to the Bishop of Acqs on a journey by the caravan route that diplomatic missions usually followed. Thus, Fresne went from Venice to Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and via Adrianople arrived in Constantinople

For those who wish to purchase a slave examine their eyes, their teeth, and all parts of their bodies. Τhe slaves are displayed completely naked so that the purchaser may more easily determine their faults and imperfections. It is a pitiable and lamentable thing to observe.

  ELEGHOS... at history