Publisher's Synopsis
Holding individuals for ransom has been a socio-economic activity that has occurred in a variety of contexts historically. In the Mediterranean world until the early nineteenth century, it was an act of power contestation between Christian and Muslim societies. This volume focuses on historical and contemporary ransoming practices in Africa, Europe, and Asia since the sixteenth century. In examining both historical contexts of ransoming in Europe and Africa the contributors explore the interface between religion, geography, class and race.
