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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal Empires

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the [transcript](transcript link here) first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. Who ruled the major political states in Asia around 1300? Which states do they rule?
  2. What was the devshirme system?
  3. What role did enslaved people play in these empires? In what context did this arrangement develop?
  4. Why do some historians call these three empires “Gunpowder Empires?” Why might other historians disagree with this label?
  5. What are some commonalities among the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to this question:
  1. The leadership of each of these empires had gunpowder and firearms. The leadership of each of these empires practiced Islam. Do you think it is more likely that they each developed around these technologies and belief systems independently? Or do you think it is more likely that they diffused from one region to another? What does your answer tell you about the importance of innovation vs the importance of diffusion in this region and time?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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