Medieval Persia 1040-1797 - Hardcover

"David Morgan's Medieval Persia 1040-1797 is an ideal textbook for courses on the medieval and early modern Middle East. Concise, accurate, and highly readable, it remains the best introduction to its subject."
Adam Sabra, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

"A tour de force by a master of his craft. Morgan's Medieval Persia guides the reader eloquently through a thousand years of Persian history with a fluency that renders a complex period accessible to the lay reader while retaining details of interest for the specialist. This is an essential read for all students of Iranian history."
Ali Ansari, University of St Andrews, UK

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.