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This course will provide a general survey of the political, social, and cultural history of Islamic Central Asia from the 16th century down to the Russian conquest. Introductory lectures will outline the geographical and ethnic context of Central Asian history, and the political and social legacies of the Mongol conquest in Central Asia; developments in sedentary Central Asia under Timurid rule and the emergence of the nomadic Uzbek confederation in the steppe will be given special attention, before turning to the Uzbek conquest of Central Asia at the beginning of the 16th century. The bulk of the course will focus on the development of the Chingisid states of the Uzbeks in sedentary Central Asia from the 16th to 18th centuries, and on the emergence of the `tribal' dynasties of the Manghïts, Qongrats, and Mings in Bukhara, Khorezm, and Qoqand in the 18th and 19th centuries; the history of East Turkistan down to the Manchu conquest in the mid-18th century, and of the major nomadic polities of Central Asia (Qazaqs, Qïrghïz, and Türkmens), will also be discussed. Throughout the course special `thematic' attention will be focused on the development of political institutions and shifting modes of political legitimation, the interaction of nomadic groups with sedentary society, developments in `ethnic' history, and aspects of religious and cultural life; students will also be acquainted with the sources for the study of Central Asian history during this period, and with major issues in the historiography of Central Asia.
Readings: Required readings will be made available in class or on reserve at the Main Library.
Requirements: Undergraduates will take a midterm and a final exam, and will write a brief report based on outside readings. Graduate students will take both exams and submit a research paper or other suitable project to be approved by the instructor.
Goodbody Hall 157 | 1011 East 3rd St. | Bloomington, IN 47405-7005 | Phone: (812) 855-2233 | Fax: (812) 855-7500 | ceus@indiana.edu