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IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India History From 8th to Mid 15th Century - Political Formations in Central and West Asia

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History India From 8th to Mid 15th Century

Political Formations in Central and West Asia

Structure

1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction '
I 1.2 Geographical Delimitation of Turan and Iran
I 1.3 The Antecedents of Uzbegs and the Safavis
1.4 The Historical Perspective on the Eve of the Political Formations
'in Cent& Asia
1.5 Origin of the Safavis : Historical Perspective
1.5.1 The Tripartite Conflict of the Uzbegs, Persians and Timurids
1.5.2 Recovery and Resurgence of the Uzbeg Power
1 5.3 The Uzbeg Empire - .
1.6 Origin of the Safavis : Historical Perspective
1.6.1 The Aq Quyunlus and Qara Quyunlus
1.6.2 The Turcomans and the Safavis
1.6.3 Shiism and the Safavis
1.7 The Safavis and the Uzbeg-Ottoman Confrontation
1.8 Let Us Sum Up
1.9 Key Words
1.10 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

1.0 OBJECTIVES

The study of this unit would enable you to:
understand the appearance of the Mughals on Indian borders and to learn about
their origin and antecedents,
demarcate the geographical boundary of the two powerful neighbouring states of
the Mughal Empire,
acquaint yourself with the historical perspective of the establishment of the
Uzbeg and Safavi ~Empires,
. analyse the factors which influenced and shaped the internal and external
decisions and policies of the Mughals at earlier stages.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The conquest of India by the Mughals was a direct consequence of the political
reshuffling and dynastic changes which took place on its north-western frontier at
the turn of the 15th century. These in turn led to the formation of two new states
i.e., Turan (Transoxiana in Central Asia) under the Uzbegs and Iran (Persia) under
the Safavi rulers.
A study of the political formations in West and Central Asia in the first decade of
the sixteenth century is important due to the geographical proximity and the ageold
close cultural and commercial contacts existing between these regions and India. The
fugitive Uzbeg princes of Dasht-iqipchaq, led by Shaibani Khan, wrested Central
Asia from the Timurids, exterminating the dynasty founded by Timur. In fact, this
led Babur (om of the very few Timurid survivors) to turn towards India.