• 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.
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Subunit 9.1: 3.5 hours
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Subunit 9.2: 1.5 hours
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Subunit 9.3: 3 hours
Unit 9 Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
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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, 14021480,” “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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.2.1 Rise and Fall of the Safavids
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
•
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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.2.2 Shi’a Islam
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.2 Connection and Exchange
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.3 Mughal Art and Culture
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.4 Mughal Religion
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.5 Challenges: the Marathas and the Sikhs
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.6 The Coming of the Europeans
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
•
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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 9.3.7 Decline of the Mughals
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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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
•
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.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the
webpage above.
• 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).