2 Part assignment, each one should be 1-2 pages long.
For part A , you are to provide a comparative analysis of the accounts of two Abbasid Caliphs, al-Mansr (r. 754-775 CE) and al-Ma mn (r. 813-833 CE) as presented in al-Masds The Book of Golden Meadows. For your convenience, a link to the reading can be found here.
In addition to doing a general assessment of the primary source reading, address the following questions in your analysis:
1. The early Abbasid Caliphs were rulers who enjoyed absolute power. Does al-Masds accounts portray this?
2. Would you say that al-Masds account portrays the Caliphs in a favourable light? What do you think al-Masd is trying to accomplish in these accounts?
3. Do these accounts provide any insight into how these Caliphs viewed their responsibility and role as Islamic rulers?
4. In your assessment, how objective would you say are al-Masds accounts as a historical source?
LINK TO THE READING
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/masoudi.asp
For part B, please read the excerpt On the Franks (link below) by the medieval Arab poet and essayist Usma b. Munqidh (d. 1188), taken from his famous memoir, Kitb al-Itibr (Book of Instruction by Example). Usama b. Munqidh was born a year before the First Crusade and died just a year after Salh al-Dns recapture of Jerusalem in 1187. These selections give us a rare glimpse at the social history of the period the lived experiences of people rather than mainstream political or economic history. For this assignment, do an assessment of the historical value of this primary source reading on the history of the Crusades. What kinds of information from this source are useful for the social historian? What does it tell us about the lived experience of people during this tumultuous and violent period? Be sure to include in your analysis what you think the authors general opinion of the Franks is.
LINK TO READING
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/usamah2.asp
Instructions
This is an essay-style written assignment. Although you do not need a thesis or argument, you should write your answer in a clear, organized, and thoughtful way. A rubric has been made available to you to use as a guide. You are only to use the material assigned to you (see the link above). Be mindful of grammar and spelling. Use full sentences and paragraphs; do not use point-form. Your essay should be between 1-2 double-spaced pages. Please cite your work and use either CMS or MLA citation formatting rules. In-text citations are acceptable. Please note that your assignment will be subjected to a plagiarism checker (TurnItIn) when submitted.
Please separate the two parts, each with its own work cited page.
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