Unit 4 DBQs
DBQ 1: The Expansion and Administration of Empires in the Early Modern Period
Prompt:
Evaluate the methods used by the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires to expand and administer their territories. How did these empires maintain political control and cohesion in diverse, multi-ethnic societies?
Documents:

1. Excerpt from a 16th-century Ottoman administrative document on the centralization of power under Sultan Suleiman.
2. Mughal map depicting the territorial expansion under Akbar the Great.
3. Safavid royal decree on the integration of conquered territories and religious policies.
4. Letter from an Ottoman governor to the central bureaucracy discussing local governance in a newly conquered region.
5. Mughal court records discussing policies towards non-Muslim populations.
6. Safavid military report on defending the empire's borders from external threats.

DBQ 2: Religious and Cultural Developments in the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid Empires
Prompt:
Analyze how religious and cultural developments shaped the identities of the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires. To what extent did these empires promote religious tolerance or enforce religious orthodoxy?
Documents:

1. Excerpt from the Ottoman legal code (Kanun) concerning religious minorities.
2. Mughal emperor Akbar's policies on religious tolerance, including his participation in the Din-i Ilahi.
3. Safavid Shi'a Islam policies and their impact on religious minorities in Persia.
4. Illustrations of architectural developments in the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires.
5. Excerpt from the memoirs of a Mughal courtier discussing the emperor’s religious practices.
6. A report on the use of religious festivals and public celebrations to reinforce imperial authority in the Ottoman Empire.

DBQ 3: Military Innovations in the Early Modern Empires
Prompt:
Assess the role of military innovations in the expansion and stability of the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires. How did advancements in military technology and strategy contribute to their success?
Documents:

1. A letter from an Ottoman general discussing the use of gunpowder weapons in warfare.
2. A Mughal account of the Battle of Panipat (1526), highlighting military tactics and the role of artillery.
3. Safavid military treatise on the use of cavalry and infantry in battle.
4. A description of the Ottoman Janissaries and their role in both the military and the administration.
5. Excerpt from a Mughal emperor’s strategic guide to warfare, focusing on the role of the elephant corps.
6. A European observer’s account of Safavid military practices and their impact on regional diplomacy.

DBQ 4: Transoceanic Interconnections and the Expansion of Trade Networks
Prompt:
Examine the role of the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires in the development of transoceanic trade networks during the early modern period. How did these empires interact with global trade routes, and what impact did they have on the economy and culture?
Documents:

1. An Ottoman merchant’s letter discussing trade with European states and the Middle East.
2. Mughal trade records showing the exchange of goods with the Portuguese and other European nations.
3. Safavid correspondence regarding trade with the Indian Ocean network.
4. A map of the Indian Ocean trade routes highlighting Mughal, Ottoman, and Safavid territories.
5. Excerpt from a Venetian merchant’s diary discussing goods imported from Ottoman and Mughal markets.
6. A Safavid decree on regulating trade in the Persian Gulf and its impact on local economies.

DBQ 5: The Impact of Maritime Empires on Transoceanic Interconnections
Prompt:
Discuss how the rise of maritime empires (such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and Spanish) between c. 1450–c. 1750 affected the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires. How did these maritime empires influence the political, economic, and cultural landscapes of these land-based empires?
Documents:

1. A Portuguese diplomat’s report on trade negotiations with the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean.
2. A letter from a Mughal official describing the tensions between the Portuguese and Mughal forces in the Indian Ocean.
3. Safavid correspondence with the Dutch East India Company regarding trade in the Persian Gulf.
4. Excerpt from Ottoman diplomatic correspondence with European powers about maritime navigation.
5. A Spanish royal decree on the enforcement of trade monopolies in the Indian Ocean and its effects on Mughal and Safavid trade.
6. A Safavid courtier’s account of the cultural influence of Portuguese missionaries on Persian art and architecture.

DBQ 6: Cultural Interactions and Resistance in the Age of Expansion
Prompt:
Evaluate the extent to which cultural interactions and resistance to foreign influence shaped the political and social dynamics of the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid empires between c. 1450–c. 1750.
Documents:

1. Ottoman response to the spread of European Renaissance art and its effects on Ottoman architecture.
2. Mughal court document detailing the integration of Persian, Turkish, and Indian cultural influences in the empire’s art and literature.
3. Excerpt from a Safavid ruler’s speech addressing the integration of diverse cultural practices within the empire.
4. A European missionary’s account of resistance to Christianity in the Ottoman and Mughal empires.
5. An Ottoman chronicle detailing local resistance movements to imperial authority in the Balkans.
6. Mughal officials’ correspondence discussing the integration of Sikh and Hindu communities into the imperial social fabric.