Persian Historiography across Empires: The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals

Persian was a primary language for historical writing during the early modern Islamic empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals. Sholeh A. Quinn's comparative study of Persian historiography from the 16th-17th centuries highlights the importance of placing these histories within their historical and historiographical contexts. It provides in-depth case analyses and primary sources to illustrate that Persian historiography was part of a larger universe of literary-historical writing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Over the course of the early modern Islamic empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals, Persian played a significant role as one of the primary languages of historical writing. Historians who worked within these empires engaged in a rich exchange of ideas, reading and citing each other's work. Some of these historians even transitioned between different empires, writing under rival dynasties at various points in time. To fully understand this phenomenon, Sholeh A. Quinn employs a diverse range of historiographical approaches, emphasizing the need to look beyond political boundaries in studying this issue. By placing these histories not only within their historical context but also within the broader historiographical context, Quinn seeks to highlight their significance.

This comparative study of Persian historiography from the 16th to 17th centuries presents in-depth case analyses alongside a wide array of primary sources written under the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals. These sources provide valuable insights into the literary-historical world of Persian historiography during this era, showcasing its interconnectedness with other forms of writing. Through this analysis, it becomes clear that Persian historiography played a vital role in shaping the historical narratives of the time and contributed to the broader intellectual and cultural landscape of the early modern Islamic world.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108820387