Medieval Persia 1040-1797 charts the remarkable history of Persia from
its conquest by the Muslim Arabs in the seventh century AD to the modern
period at the end of the eighteenth century, when the impact of the west
became pervasive. David Morgan argues that understanding this complex
period of Persia's history is integral to understanding modern Iran and
its significant role on the international scene.
The book begins with a geographical introduction and briefly summarises
Persian history during the early Islamic centuries to place the
country's Middle Ages in their historical context. It then charts the
arrival of the Saljūq Turks in the eleventh century and discusses in
turn the major political powers of the period: Mongols, Timurids,
Türkmen and Safawids. The chronological narrative enables students to
identify change and consistencies under each ruling dynasty, while
Persia's rich social, cultural, religious and economic history is also
woven throughout to present a complete picture of life in Medieval
Persia. Despite the turbulent backdrop, which saw Persia ruled by a
succession of groups who had seized power by military force, arts,
painting, poetry, literature and architecture all flourished in the
period.
This new edition contains a new epilogue which discusses the significant
literature of the last 28 years to provide students with a comprehensive
overview of the latest historiographical trends in Persian history.
Concise and clear, this book is the perfect introduction for students of
medieval Persia and the medieval Middle East.
