World History II

Chapter 20: The Islamic World Powers
1300 to 1800

11: Wed, Oct 9, 2019

Please post in the forum for the day a short essay in response to this question:

All three empires were concerned with the formation of internal communities and divisions which could challenge imperial authority, foment rebellion and unrest, or reduce central authority. This was particularly problematic where local regions had populations that were not dominantly Moslem, such as the Christian Balkans controlled by the Ottoman empire, and the Hindu majorities in Mughul territories. What kinds of communities formed within the empires and on what shared grounds (religious, social, aristocratic, intellectual)? Were these communities restricted to people in close proximity (i.e., in he same household or convent, in the same neighborhood or city)? How did governments and religious authorities attempt to control these communities?

You may want to consider:

• How Christians Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and other non-Muslims were tolerated at different times within Muslim empires: what rights and privileges did they have?
• How different Islamic factions (Sunni, Shi'a, Qizilbash, Sufi) were tolerated at different times within Muslim empires: what rights and privileges did they have?
• How the movement of entire populations such as the Jews and Armenians changed both their own cultures and those where they relocated.
• Coffeehouses!
• How trade networks provided support to individuals in diffuse communities.
• How the large personal households of the imperial courts fostered loyalty….or incited division.

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