Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

Algerian Muslim views tended to interpret it as a manifestation of “Christian
submission to the Muslim order,” which also corresponds with the first
meaning in the definition, the Christians rejected this view and rather saw it as
an exchange of gifts “between two equal partners” thus slightly skimming over
the second meaning. 65 In consequence, this difference in approach was a source
of much disagreement between Algiers and the western countries throughout
the latter part of the period under study.
Furthermore, when tribute is put in different historical context, it means
different things at different periods of time. In Antiquity, the less powerful
Greek city-states paid a tribute to Athens implying submission to the power of
that great city. In the early Medieval Ages, the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred II
paid a tribute, the Danegeld, to the invading Danes to escape total destruction
of his kingdom at the hands of the invading Vikings; here tribute is likened to
blackmail money. Throughout the medieval ages the peasants paid their lords a
tribute for protection against other belligerent lords; in this case it was a sort of
a defense fee. During early Islamic history, the Dhimmies (or Ahl Al-
Dhimmah) had to choose between conversion to Islam, payment of a tribute, or
fight by the sword. Those who preferred to keep their faith paid a tribute which
implied recognition of the supremacy of Islamic law and submission to its
government. 66
Finally, the Spanish conquistadors imposed a parias on the
Muslims of Andalusia and North Africa when they were militarily strong but
65 Muller, Consuls, Corsairs, and Commerce, p. 59.
66 John L. Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam (London/New York: Oxford
University Press, 2002), pp. 70-1; Joshua E. London, “Victory in Tripoli: Lessons for the War on
Terrorism,” Heritage Lectures, 940 (May, 2006), p. 6.
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