DIRECTIONS: Essay Answer the following question on a separate piece of paper.
"The janissary corps were the elite soldiers and administrators of the sultan's army. They were young
Christian boys chosen because of their 'good appearance and good physical build. This policy of
recruiting janissaries lasted until 1634. After 1634, new recruits came from the sons of janissaries
and were less disciplined. To minimize the impact on the Ottoman treasury, the janissaries took jobs
in the winter (when they were usually not fighting) as artisans. By 1826, the janissary force had
grown so large-135,000 strong-and so powerful that the sultan was forced to massacre all its
members. The demise of the janissaries corresponded with the decline of the Ottoman Empire."
22. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a janissary's life from a janissary's point of view. Include in your
analysis the role the soldiers played in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, the way they were treated,
and their possible reasons for converting to Islam. Use information from the passage and the chapter to
develop your answer.