Three Muslim Empires WebQuest

Introduction

From the 13th to the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire was one of the world's great powers. The center of the empire was located in Anatolia, a region which is modern day Turkey. At the height of its influence in the 1500s, it was the mightiest empire on earth. It nearly surrounded the Mediterranean Sea, covering much of southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and the Arab Middle East.



The Safavids were a ruling dynasty that dominated Persia, known as Iran today, in the 1500s and 1600s. The Safavids are named for an ancestor by the name of Safi al-Din, who ruled in the late 13th century. The Safavid family became the spiritual leaders among a number of Turkish tribes east of Asia Minor, establishing their empire near the Caspian Sea.



The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty in India founded in the 16th century by a descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur-i Lang named Babur. The dynasty ruled most of the Northern Indian subcontinent until the mid-18th century.

Task

You will use the links provided to become well-informed about these empires. After the research is complete, answer the following questions, complete the required paragraphs, and fill in a map of the empires.



1. What were the similarities and differences between the three Muslim empires?



2. What weaknesses were common to all of the Muslim empires?



3. What were the differences and comparisons in the social and economic organization of the Ottomans, Safavids, and the Mughals?



4. What were the reasons for the decline of the Mughal dynasty?



5. What were the causes of the Ottoman decline in the 17th century?



6. What were the reasons for the decline of the Safavid empire?



7.  For each of the following empires, write a paragraph explaining which ruler, of that empire, you consider to have been the most influential.

a) Ottoman Sultan

b) Safavid Shah

c) Mughal Emperor

8. Using a blackline map and colored pencils (provided by Mrs. Pulliam), shade in the areas controlled by each empire. Label the empire and the years of its power.





By completing this WebQuest, you should achieve the following goals: 1) use the power of the Internet for advanced exploration; 2) learn information about key aspects of Muslim Empires; 3) realize that complex topics can be looked at from various perspectives; 4) formulate and support an opinion based on your research.

Process

You should start with the pages that are labeled 'Background Information' before moving to the individual empires. There are questions that will be answered within the individual roles, and some may be answered by the background information, but you should read that first in order to have a good understanding of each empire. Someone in your group should take notes as you research. 

 

Phase 1 - Background Information—These sites are important because they will provide basic information about the topic as a whole. Everyone should explore these sites first.

Phase 2 – The Empires—You are required to explore each empire, and answer the questions associated with each empire in your notes. You will then use the information you have found to write your paragraphs about which ruler of each empire was the most influential.

Mughal Empire:

1. Use the History of Aurangzeb site and its links to Aurangzeb's religious policies to explain how his religious policies, intolerance for rival politics on the subcontinent, and his expensive military campaigns eroded the foundations of the empire laid by Akbar without providing a new basis for its administration.



2. Using the link for Akbar the Great, explain why Akbar developed the Din-i-Ilahi. Explain how well the values embodied in this religion would have served the Mughal Empire if it had been widely adopted. Could it have been widely adopted? Who might have opposed its adoption?

Ottoman Empire:

Use these links to answer the following questions:



1. Why does Suleiman the Magnificent deserve his status as a great legal reformer and administrator?

2. How does the account of a European visitor summoned into her presence indicate that the wife of Suleiman was a formidable intelligence gatherer for her husband?

3. What were the origins and impact of the career of Roxelana in the Ottoman Court?

4. Why was the recruitment of troops from non-Muslim people considered a good idea?

5. How did the Janissaries become more than merely a military institution?

6. What is Lady Mantagu's opinion of Ottoman society and their attitudes towards medical preparations? What is her opinion of Western doctors?

Safavid Empire:

1. What was the title of the leaders of the Safavids?

2. How did the use of art in the Safavid Empire differ from that of Renaissance Europe?

3. What is Sufism?

4. Why do you think the Sufi believe knowledge should come from teachers and not just books?

5. How did Abbas I change the military in the empire? In what ways was this change unusual?

6. What does secular mean?

Evaluation

Questions 1-6 - Should be answered in complete sentences that restate the question. 5 points each, for a total of 30 points in this section.

Three Paragraphs - A minimum of 5 sentences per paragraph (topic sentence, supporting details (3), and concluding sentence)

10 points per paragraph, 30 points for this section. 



Map - Should be completed including colored areas for each empire (5 points each), a color-coded key (5 pts.) and appropriate labels (5 points) for a total of 25 points for this section.

Thoroughness - the quality, accuracy, and completeness of answers  - up to 10 points

Neatness - up to 5 points

Scores will be adjusted downward individually if there is a lack of participation for any particular student.

Conclusion

I hope that you have gained a wealth of understanding from your exploration of these three Muslim empires. You should now be able to explain how each of these Empires interacted with, and influenced, the world around them. This knowledge will be vital to your understanding as we continue to explore these areas in history as it approaches the present day.

Credits