1
The Fulk of Chartres Account of the Capture of Jerusalem, 1099 This site provides the text of the account of the Fulk of Chartres, a crusader who participated in the final storming of the city.
http://crh.choate.edu/histsources/Europe/Medieval/Documents/Crusades/The%20Capture%20of%20Jerusalem,%201099.html
Questions for exploration:
Why does the author believe the crusaders are worthy of praise for the way that they looted the homes of the inhabitants of Jerusalem? How the author's account of the result of Tancred's looting reflect well on the Crusader's values? How does the means by which the Crusaders extracted money from the Muslim dead and the disposition of those inhabitants caught on the temple mount reflect upon the Crusaders values?
2
The Ghaznavids This site examines one of the earliest "sultanates," or kingdoms that broke away from the fading Abbasid Caliphate.
http://www.afghan-network.net/rulers/ghaznavids.html
Questions for exploration:
What was the previous status of the first Ghaznavid ruler, Alptigin? How did Mahmud of Ghazni regard the lands and souls of India? What enabled the dynasty to build a magnificent capital at Ghazni?
3
Islam in China This site traces the presence of Islam in China.
http://salam.muslimsonline.com/~azahoor/islchina.htm
Questions for exploration:
What is the earliest evidence of Islam in China? What role did Muslims play in the Chinese economy? How did Muslims eventually become integrated into Chinese society? Give some examples of this process. In what ways did Muslims remain unique?
4
The Travels of Ibn Battuta - A Visual Tour This site offers an interactive virtual tour of the travels of Ibn Battuta, a Muslim Marco Polo.
http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/islam/nbLinks/Ibn_Battuta_Rihla.html
Questions for exploration:
This site is designed to assist students to compose a postcard to Ibn Battuta at different junctures of his travels. Following its directions, compose two of the postcard exercises.
5
Muslim Egypt in the Middle Ages This site offers a brief history of Islamic Egypt to its conquest by the Ottomans in 1516-17.
http://mcweb.mc.maricopa.edu/academic/cult_sci/anthro/egypt/muslim_egypt.html
Questions for exploration:
What is the meaning of the term "mamluk?" What was the nature and purpose of the Egyptian Mamluk system? How was it self-perpetuating? What role did the Mamluks play in confronting the Mongol invasion of the Islamic heartland?
6
Turkish Miniatures These two sites discuss the origins and characteristics of early Turkish miniature painting.
http://www.turkey.org/culture/c_miniat.htm and http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Societies/turksoc/intro/c_paint.html
Questions for exploration:
What cultural exchange helped stimulate Turkish miniature painting? What are the distinctive elements of Turkish miniature paintings in terms of style and subject?
7
Poems of Kabir This site explores the poetry of Kabir.
http://goto.bilkent.edu.tr/gunes/KabirPoems.htm and http://www.boloji.com/kabir/mysticsongs.htm
Questions for exploration:
Both Sufi and Bhakti thought was opposed to formalism and embraced knowledge of God as would a lover, not a philosopher. Provide samples of Kabir's poetry that exemplify this approach to salvation. Kabir's poetry is often taken to transcend any one religious denomination, or at least expresses universal religious concerns. How would you illustrate that facet of his work with reference to the poetry provided at these sites?
8
The Travels of Ibn Battuta in Asia and Africa This site, drawn from the Internet’s Medieval Sourcebook, offers excerpts from Ibn Battuta’s account of his travels.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/batuta.html
Questions for exploration:
How does Ibn Battuta’s account of slavery suggest differences between slavery in Europe and the Islamic world? Western accounts of Turks often portray them as evil and fanatical. How does Ibn Battuta find them? What obviously un-Qur’anic practice did Ibn Battuta find among them that would seem to discount their strict adherence to Muslim law? How did Ibn Battuta view the practice? How is the town of Alaya laid out? How are its human inhabitants arranged in the town? How does Ibn Battuta get to Anatolia? What evidence of trade and traders can you find in this account?
