Unit 9: The Muslim Empires The Mongol invasions of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries broke apart a unified Muslim world. But in the wake of these invasions, three new dynasties rose to power and paved the way for the emergence of an Islamic renaissance. The greatest of the three, the Ottoman Empire, ruled most of Asia Minor. The Safavids ruled Persia and Afghanistan, while the Mughals dominated India. All three empires originated from Turkic nomadic peoples who embraced Islam and Islamic conversion efforts. In this unit, we will begin by studying the Ottomans. We will consider their origins, their methods of conquest, as well as the unique features of their society. We will also examine the reasons for the decline and reform of the Ottoman Empire. Then, we will turn our attention to the Safavids, studying both their society and religion Shi a Islam. Finally, we will focus on the Mughals including their origins, reasons for their wealth, the formation of their empire, and outsiders cultural and economic interests in the Mughals. Unit 9 Time Advisory This unit will take you 8 hours to complete. Subunit 9.1: 3.5 hours Subunit 9.2: 1.5 hours Subunit 9.3: 3 hours Unit 9 Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this unit, the student will be able to: Identify key milestones in the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Describe some of the important religious and political features and practices within the Ottoman state. Describe some of the various forms of interaction between the Ottoman Empire, Europe, and the Middle East during the period under review.
Identify some key milestones in the rise of the Mughal Empire, its internal features, and its myriad cultural and commercial interactions with the outside world. 9.1 The Ottoman Empire: Origins and Conquests Reading: University of Calgary: Applied History Project: Rise of the Great Islamic Empires: The Ottoman Empire Link: University of Calgary: Applied History Project: Rise of the Great Islamic Empires: The Ottoman Empire (HTML) Instructions: The Ottoman Empire played a dominant role in the history of the Middle East, Caucasus, Asia Minor and parts of Europe from the period covered here to the twentieth century. Please read all of this text which describes events in the 13th Century before continuing on to the links entitled Empire Building, 1301-1402, Recovery and Renewed Conquest, 1402-1480, Relations with the Islamic World, 1480-1520 and Suleyman I. These readings will provide you with an introduction to some of the major milestones in the early history of the Ottoman Empire and the lands brought under its rule. 9.1.1 The Fall of Constantinople Reading: VirginiaTech: Bryan Gilkerson s The Siege of Constantinople Link: VirginiaTech: Bryan Gilkerson s The Siege of Constantinople (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of the webpage in order to get a sense of the Ottomans siege of the city of Constantinople.
9.1.2 Religion and Society: Muslim and Non-Muslim Relations Reading: Michigan State University: Steven S. Sowards Twenty-Five Lectures on Modern Balkan History: Lecture 3: The Principles of Ottoman Rule in the Balkans Link: Michigan State University: Steven S. Sowards Twenty-Five Lectures on Modern Balkan History: Lecture 3: The Principles of Ottoman Rule in the Balkans (HTML) Instructions: The Ottoman Empire encompassed a diverse population of subjects. Please read all of this text, which provides greater detail on the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans and proceeds from here to discuss the empire s policy towards the non-muslim inhabitants of the region. 9.2 The Safavids Reading: Selections from The Applied History Research Group s The Islamic World to 1600 : The Safavid Empire Link: Selections from The Applied History Research Group s The Islamic World to 1600 : The Safavid Empire : Beginnings to 1501 (HTML) Shah Ismail 1501-1526 (HTML) Chaos in the Empire, 1524-1587 (HTML) Abbas I, 1587-1629 (HTML) Instructions: Please read all of the above webpages to get a good overview of the Safavid Empire and its main leaders. Please also read the links embedded in the text; they will provide you with good historical context of the period. Note on the Text: The Applied History Research Group is affiliated with the University of Calgary.
9.2.1 Rise and Fall of the Safavids Reading: Iran Chamber Society s History of Iran : Shapour Ghasemi s Safavid Empire, 1502-1736 Link: Iran Chamber Society s History of Iran : Shapour Ghasemi s Safavid Empire, 1502-1736 (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of the webpage to learn about the Safavid Empire s origins, the significance of Sufism and Shi a Islam, and the nature of Safavid society and government. Note on the Text: This article is hosted by the Iran Chamber Society, which is a good resource for historical and cultural information about Iran. Reading: Country Studies US: Helen Chapin Metz s (ed.) Iran: A Country Study: The Safavids, 1501-1722 Link: Country Studies US: Helen Chapin Metz s (ed.) Iran: A Country Study: The Safavids, 1501-1722 (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of this webpage to get a sense of the internal and external challenges that faced the Safavid Empire. Note on the Text: This website contains electronic texts of previous publications printed by the Library of Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Army from 1986-1998. This particular text was printed in 1987. 9.2.2 Shi a Islam Reading: Country Studies US: Helen Chapin Metz s (ed.) Iran: A Country Study: Shi a Islam
Link: Country Studies US: Helen Chapin Metz s (ed.) Iran: A Country Study: Shi a Islam (HTML) Instructions: Please read the whole webpage to get a better understanding of the tenets of Shi a Islam the official religion of the Safavid dynasty. Note on the Text: This website contains electronic texts of previous publications printed by the Library of Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Army from 1986-1998. This particular text was printed in 1987. 9.3 The Mughals 9.3.1 The Mughal Empire Reading: Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Mughals Link: Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Mughals (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of the website in order to get a good overview of the Mughal Empire. Note on the Text: This website contains electronic texts of previous publications printed by the Library of Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Army from 1986-1998. This particular text was printed in 1995. 9.3.2 Connection and Exchange Reading: University of Washington: Daniel C. Waugh s Mughal India s Timurid Heritage
Link: University of Washington: Daniel C. Waugh s Mughal India s Timurid Heritage (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entire webpage in order to get a sense of the influence of Central Asia including the Silk Road on the Mughal Empire. Please also click on the Mughal art featured on the far left-hand side of the webpage and read the descriptions. 9.3.3 Mughal Art and Culture Reading: Columbia University: Professor Frances Pritchett s The Mughals and the Arts Link: Columbia University: Professor Frances Pritchett s The Mughals and the Arts (HTML) Instructions: Please read this entire webpage to get a sense of how the unified political environment of Mughal India created the conditions for artistic achievement. 9.3.4 Mughal Religion Reading: Columbia University: Professor Frances Pritchett s Religion at Akbar s Court Link: Columbia University: Professor Frances Pritchett s Religion at Akbar s Court (HTML) Instructions: Please read this webpage in order to get a sense of the religious policy of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Note on the Text: Islam was central to the Mughal kingdom, but the manner in which leaders embraced it or imposed it on the population was constantly changing, as this article shows.
9.3.5 Challenges: the Marathas and the Sikhs Reading: Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Marathas and The Sikhs Link: Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Marathas (HTML) and The Sikhs (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of these two links to get a sense of two challengers to Mughal rule the Sikhs and the Marathas. 9.3.6 The Coming of the Europeans Reading: Fordham University s Internet Indian History Sourcebook: Paul Halsall s version of François Bernier s Travels in the Mughal Empire Link: Fordham University s Internet Indian History Sourcebook: Paul Halsall s version of François Bernier s Travels in the Mughal Empire (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entire excerpt to get a sense of Europeans perceptions and impressions of the Mughal Empire. Note on the Text: Written in the mid-seventeenth century by a French doctor, this text gives a detailed account of the powerful and extensive Mughal Empire. Bernier was the first European to describe the region of Kashmir and his position as a medical doctor in the court of Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal emperors, provided an unprecedented window into Mughal culture and customs.
Reading: James Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Coming of the Europeans Link: James Country Studies US: James Heitzman s and Robert L. Worden s (editors) India: A Country Study: The Coming of the Europeans (HTML) Instructions: Please read the entirety of this link to get a sense of the relationship between European traders and Mughal rulers. 9.3.7 Decline of the Mughals Reading: Columbia University: Professor Frances Pritchett s A Century of Political Decline: 1707-1803 Link: Columbia University: Frances Pritchett s A Century of Political Decline: 1707-1803 (HTML) Instructions: Please read this webpage in order to get a sense of the reasons for political decline of the Mughal Empire during the eighteenth century. Assessment: Pearson Education s World Civilizations: AP Edition: Chapter 21, Multiple Choice Quiz Link: Pearson Education s World Civilizations: AP Edition: Chapter 21, Multiple Choice Quiz (HTML) Instructions: Please take the assigned multiple choice quiz on this webpage in order to assess your understanding of the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires. Click on Submit Answers for Grading at the bottom of the webpage to link to the answer key for the quiz.
Subunit 9.3 Assessment Assessment: The Saylor Foundation's "Reading Questions for Subunit 9.3" Link: The Saylor Foundation's "Reading Questions for Subunit 9.3" (PDF) Instructions: Once you have worked through all of the assigned resources in the subunit above, please open the linked PDF and respond to all questions. When you are done--or if you are stuck--please check your work against The Saylor Foundation's "Guide to Responding to Reading Questions for Subunit 9.3" (PDF).