This Arabic Symbol Translates to: "The shining sun, which Allah placed for everyone"
For
AP World History Class
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion
For more than six centuries, from about 1290 until 1922, the Ottoman Empire was one of the world's great powers. The center of the empire was located in Anatolia, in the region of modern day Turkey. At the height of its influence in the 1500's, 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 became a ruling dynasty that dominated Persia, known as Iran today, in the 1500’s and 1600’s. 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 Mughal’s were a Muslim dynasty in India founded in the 16th Century by a descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur-i Lang who was called Babur. The dynasty ruled most of the Northern Indian subcontinent until the mid-18th century.
The word Mogul is the Arabic and Persian version of Mongol.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion
Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal
 What were the similarities and differences between the three Muslim empires?
 What weaknesses were common to all of the Muslim empires?
 What were the differences and comparisons in the social and economic organization of the Ottomans, the
 Safavids, and the Mughals?
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What were the reasons for the decline of the Mughal dynasty?
 What were the causes of the Ottoman decline in the 17th century?
What were the similarities and differences in the decline of the Abbasid and
Ottoman empires?

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Students form teams of researchers (see The Process section below).
Each team member should divide up their duties, as defined in the "Process" section.
Each team must include the following 3 parts:
ANSWERS TO WEB EXPLORATION QUESTIONS
BIOGRAPHIES
MAPS
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion
1. Complete answers to the 10 sets of questions that relate to the associated web sites below .
(3 points each, 30 points total)
2. Three, one paragraph biographies, on what you consider to be the most influential (3 points each, 9 points total)
a) Ottoman Sultan
b) Safavid Shah
c) Mughal Emperor
3. Pictures or Drawing of each of the Sultan, Shah, and Mughal Emperor you write your biographies on. (1 point total)
4. Maps on each of the three empires at various stages of their development (the maximum is 3 maps and the minimum is 2 for each of the three empires) and one map of the 3 empires together.
(It is your decision what maps to use and how you would like to organize them.) (1 point for each empire set and 1 point for the region map with all three empires, 4 points total)

Answer each question carefully. DO NOT skip any question in any set or you will loose points. Make sure to fully explain your answer. Answers that are too short will loose points.
Go to each website first, read the article, and view the images (if included) then answer the question in your own words.
1.
The Taj Mahal - Why was the Taj Mahal built and for whom was it built? How have Europeans tried to claim it as their own? How have Hindu nationalists tried to claim it as a Hindu design?
2.
Akbar the Great - What early experiences shaped Akbar's attitude towards religion? What experiences led him to develop the Din-i-Illahi? How well would the values embodied in this semi-official religion have served the Mughal Empire had it been widely adopted? Could it have been widely adopted? Who would have opposed its wider adoption?
3.
Aurangzeb: A Political History - Using the information provided at this site and its links to Aurangzeb’s religious policies, explain how Aurangzeb’s religious policies, his 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.
4.
The British East India Company - What brought the company to the verge of bankruptcy and led to government intervention in its affairs? What impact did early British rule have on Bengal? What was “indirect rule” and the “Doctrine of
Lapse (which had no basis in India Law as the British well knew)? What policies eventually brought about the end of the Company?
5.
Fundamentals of Ottoman Rule - What were the chief elements of Ottoman rule?
How did these serve as both the pillars of Ottoman strength and sources of weakness?
6.
Suleiman the Magnificent - Why does Suleiman deserve his status as a great legal reformer and administrator? What do you believe made Suleiman such a great leader? How would Suleiman compare with contemporary Western rulers? What happened after the death of Suleiman?
7.
Roxelana & The Wife of Suleiman - What were the origins and impact of the career of Roxelana in the Ottoman Court? How does the account of a European visitor summoned into her presence indicate that she was a formidable intelligence gatherer for her husband? How were her court intrigues typical of
Mughal and Ching court politics?
8.
The Janissaries - Why was the recruitment of troops from non-Muslim peoples considered a good idea? How did the tradition start? How did the Janissaries become more than merely a military institution? How was the reform of the
Ottoman military typical of Ottoman reforms in general? How did this style of reform differ from that in Western Europe?
9.
Ottoman Science: Smallpox Vaccination - What is Lady Montague’s seeming opinion of Ottoman society and their attitude towards medical preparations? What is her seeming opinion of Western doctors?

10.
The Safavids - How would the use of legends from pre-Islamic Iran or Persia be of use to the Safavids? How did Isma'il gain control of Safavid Persia? Why is
Abbas I considered the greatest of the Safavid leaders? How does Safavid Persia go into decline?
Please Note: You need to use Microsoft Word to put your final Document together. If you do not know how to attach pictures to a word document, or if you have difficulty doing so, you may print your pictures and maps separately from your biographies and the answers to the ten questions.
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion
The Ottoman Khilafa -[Online] available http://www.naqshbandi.org/ottomans/
This site has a lot of information on the Ottoman Empire including maps and profiles of individual Ottoman leaders.
The Rise of the Turks and the Ottoman Empire -[Online] available http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Turkey2.html
This site has information on the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
Maps of Islamic and Medieval Christian History -[Online] available http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~rs143/map.html
This site has a nice set of Maps of most of the Islamic Empires.
The Mughal Empire -[Online] available http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Mughals/mughals.html
This site has the complete history of the Mughal Empire with special emphasis on the splendor and the decline..
Encyclopedia Britannica -[Online] available http://www.school.eb.com/
MCPS has a special license to use the Grolier Encyclopedia and this a great site to find information, maps, and paintings.

Islamic Empires - [Online] available http://165.189.174.140/previews/descriptions.htm#preview12
This site has information on all the Islamic Empires in World History.
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion
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GROUP GRADE FOR FINAL PRODUCT (Up to 44 points each)(see The
Process section above)
INDIVIDUAL GRADE FOR GROUP PARTICIPATION (Points will be deducted if participation is unequal)
Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion