Turks in the Indian Subcontinent, Central and West Asia ─ The Turkish Presence in the Islamic World

Unbeknownst to some, Turkish rulers and military commanders dominated vast stretches of Islamic lands for almost a millennium until the beginning of the twentieth century. The papers presented in this volume were delivered at a prestigious Conference in Islamic Studies by some of the finest scholars on Islamic history. From their respective areas of specialization, these scholars reassess the contribution of the Turks in the shaping of the Islamic world and its civilization.

The essays are organized into five themes. The first concerns the emergence of the Turks in the Islamic world. Here, the papers move beyond the conventional frames of reference, and investigate issues of identity, consciousness and historical memory among the Turks once they entered the Islamic fold. The second deals with the Seljuq architecture and educational system which reveals the Islamic world as an integrated entity. The third the Turks in the Indian subcontinent addresses neglected themes in Mughal historiography. The fourth scrutinizes the contribution of the Turks in the field of cartography and geography. The final essay re-examines the rise of the Safavids in light of new evidence.

Ismail Poonawala, Professor of Arabic & Islamic Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of California at Los Angeles.

Ismail Kurban Husein Poonawala is Professor of Arabic & Islamic Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of California at Los Angeles.