World+Muslim+Empire+WebQuest

 **Muslim Empire WebQuest**


> 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 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. 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 named Babur. The dynasty ruled most of the Northern Indian subcontinent until the mid-18th century. 
 * Introduction **

**Task** > Group Task: > You will use the links provided as well as other resources (library, etc.) to become experts on these empires. After the research is complete, you will work in teams. You and your team will work together to create a Group Report that presents your team's answers to the following questions:

> 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? > You will also need to complete the following for your final product:

> A) Write three, 1-paragraph summaries on who you consider to be the most influential leader for each empire. > a) Ottoman Sultan > b) Safavid Shah > c) Mughal Emperor

> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000099; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">B) Include one picture or drawing of each ruler you wrote about in your summaries (At least 1 must be a drawing)

> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000099; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">C) Include at least 2 (maximum 3) maps of each individual empire during different periods of their expansion/existence

> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000099; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">D) Include one map of all 3 empires together

> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000099; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Each team will turn in a poster or book on the 3 Muslim Empires, including all of the above requirements.

> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000099; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">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 roles; and 5) work with teammates to determine a combined action plan.

**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. Each member of the team will contribute to the group task in order to complete the questions. When you are finished, your group will create a document answering the 6 Group Task questions. In addition, each member has their own individual tasks to complete as well. These tasks will be combined to create a complete project.

> 1. Complete answers to the sets of questions on regarding individual empires, related to the websites in each section: 10 points each empire, 30 points total. > 2. Three paragraphs about the rulers: 10 points each, 30 points total > 3. Pictures or drawings of each of the rulers you wrote about: 10 points each, 30 points total > 4. Maps of each of the three empires during different periods of their expansion (maximum of 3 and minimum of 2 for each empire) and 1 of the 3 empires together: 2 points each, 10 points total

> **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.
 * [|Mughal Empire]
 * [|History of Iran - Safavid]
 * [|Mughal Empire - BBC]
 * [|Ottoman Empire - BBC]
 * [|The Rise of the Turks]
 * [|Maps for the Safavid Empire]
 * [|PBS: Mughal Empire]

> == **Phase 2 - Roles** == > These roles were chosen because they each define the most important elements of Muslim Empires. Each empire has links and questions below. Here are the general instructions for all of you. > INSTRUCTIONS: > 1. Each member of the WebQuest team will explore all of the roles below. > 2. Read through the files designated for the particular empire and answer the questions for each link provided. Use the questions to help you relate back to the main group questions. Your individual answers will be turned in and must be written neatly and in complete sentences/paragraphs. > 3. Remember to include the URL of the page you take information from so you can return to it and use it as a citation. 4. Use the information you gather to answer the group questions as they relate to each specific empire. Then you'll be able to combine the answers and resources for a final product.

**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.
 * [|History of Aurangzeb]
 * [|Akbar the Great]

>> 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**:

[|Suleiman The Magnificent] >> 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?
 * [|The Wife of Suleiman]
 * [|Janissaries]
 * [|Ottoman Science]
 * [|Safavid Empire - BBC]
 * [|Abbas I]



**Conclusion** > These events will help trigger understanding of the 21st century Middle East. History continues to repeat itself!!!