Course Overview

  • Synopsis

    This course explores the Islamic world between 900 and 1118AH, from the post-Mongol fragmentation to the rise of the Timurids, Ottomans, and Mughals. Highlighting key empires, cultural achievements, and global encounters, students gain insight into political transformations, intellectual traditions, and regional interconnections, equipping them to understand the Islamic world’s enduring influence and evolving legacy.

  • Aims

    This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Islamic world between 900 and 1118AH, highlight pivotal empires, cultural achievements, and global encounters, and develop the ability to analyse political, social, and intellectual developments through an Islamic perspective using essential scholarly tools and critical thinking skills.

  • Entry Requirements

    This course is intended for students of all backgrounds, with no prior knowledge required. It aims to enrich understanding of Islamic history and its foundational developments.

Course Structure

Study Mode Online
Course Duration 8 Lessons
Start Date 23 April 2026
End Date 11 June 2026
Day Thursdays
Time 12:00 - 13:00 | Calgary
14:00 - 15:00 | New York
19:00 - 20:00 | London (GMT)
22:00 - 23:00 | Dubai
23:30 - 00:30 | Mumbai
02:00 - 03:00 | Singapore
Cost Free 
Instructor Ustadh Abu Ayyub
Textbook In-house resources will be shared

All lesson recordings available on-demand!

This 8 lesson course, delivered by Ustadh Abu Ayyub, takes students on a captivating journey through the Islamic world between 1500 and 1700 CE, an era marked by fragmentation, renewal, and the rise of powerful empires. Spanning regions from Central Asia to West Africa, Anatolia to India, students will explore shifting political landscapes, cultural vitality, and global encounters that reshaped the Muslim world.

Each week uncovers a key chapter in this transformation: the fractured order after the Mongol invasions, the rise of the Timurids and their cultural legacy, the growth of West African powers and scholarship in Timbuktu, the fall of al-Andalus, the emergence of the Ottomans and the conquest of Constantinople, the impact of Portuguese expansion in the Indian Ocean, and the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India. The course concludes with a synthesis of this age of imperial transition and its lasting consequences.

By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how Muslim societies responded to crisis and opportunity, built enduring empires, and sustained rich intellectual and cultural traditions. This course is ideal for students of Islamic studies, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to understand a transformative period that shaped the early modern Islamic world.

Enrol Now!

Course starts in...

  • 00 Days
  • 00 Hours
  • 00 Minutes
  • 00 Seconds

Topics Covered
Lesson 1

Part I: The Islamic World in the 1370s: A Fragmented Order

• Political fragmentation after the Abbasid collapse & the aftermath of the Mongol Invasions

Part II: Key Players in the 14th century

• A look at the Mamluks & Ottomans
Lesson 2

Part I - The Timurids: Conquest, Culture, and Central Asia

• Rise of Timur (Tamerlane) & his campaigns

Part II - Timurid legacy in Iran, Central Asia, and India

• Timurid patronage of art and science 

• Samarkand and Herat as cultural capitals
Lesson 3

Part I - West Africa and the Songhai Empire

• From Mali to Songhai

• Sunni Ali and Askia Muhammad

Part II – Schools in the Desert

• Timbuktu and Islamic scholarship
Lesson 4

Part I - The End of al-Andalus

• The Fall of the Nasrids

Part II - Fate of Muslims and Jews

• Migration to North Africa and the Ottoman lands
Lesson 5

Part I - From Beylik to Empire

• Ottoman imperial success

• Ottoman administration and military (Janissaries, devshirme)

Part II - Fulfilling Prophecy

• Sultan Mehmed II

• Opening of Constantinople (1453)
Lesson 6

Part I - Violence on the Indian Ocean

• Portuguese trade, violence, and disruption in the Indian Ocean

Part II: Fire & Death

• Attacks on Muslim shipping

• Kilwa, Goa, Hormuz, and Malacca
Lesson 7

Part I - The Rise of the Mughals in India

• Timurid inheritance

• Babur crosses into India

Part  II – Cultural Synthesis

• Ruling as a minority

• Akbar and ideas of religious tolerance
Lesson 8

Part I – Synthesis and Conclusion: An Age of Imperial Transformation

• Understanding loss and success

• Cultural and intellectual continuities

Part II: The Future of the Islamic World

• Impact of European maritime power

• Decline and colonisation

Learning Outcomes

Learn traditional Islamic knowledge in a thorough, practical and transforming way

  • Gain a deeper understanding of the key events, empires, and figures shaping the Islamic world between 900 and 1118AH.

  • Analyse historical developments through an Islamic lens, engaging with primary sources and scholarly interpretations.

  • Develop critical thinking skills to assess political fragmentation, imperial expansion, and global encounters across this period.

  • Enhance appreciation for the cultural, intellectual, and regional diversity of the Islamic world during an age of transition.

  • Apply historical insights to understand the lasting impact of early modern Islamic empires on contemporary Muslim societies and global history.

Course Fees

Our courses are free!

(Minimum £10 to cover admin fees)

Join our mission to keep them free and become a means for sacred knowledge to be readily accessible, professionally delivered (by qualified scholars) for the Muslim community - globally!  

Become a supporter by donating as little as £10pm - together we can make it happen inshā'aAllāh.

  • £10.00 / month

    Enrol and donate £10 monthly

    Enrol

  • £20.00 / month

    Enrol and donate £20 monthly

    Enrol

  • £15.00 / month

    Enrol and donate £15 monthly

    Enrol

  • £10.00

    One-time payment of £10.00

    Enrol

Ustadh Abu Ayyub

Senior Instructor

Ustadh Abu Ayyub is an expert history guide, educator, and consultant on Islamic history based in Istanbul, Turkey. Trained in the sacred sciences, he is also a historian, author, and passionate teacher whose dynamic approach brings the rich tapestry of Islamic history to life. Originally from the USA, his journey to explore the living legacy of the Muslim world has taken him across the globe for over a decade. His work weaves together academic depth, field experience, and spiritual insight. He teaches Islamic history at Lote Tree College, where he shares his deep knowledge and unique perspective with students from around the world.
Ustadh Abu Ayyub Marulanda

FAQs

  • How long is this course?

    This course is based on 8 lessons (1 hour each).

  • What do I need to access this course?

    All you need is a reliable internet connection and access to a personal computer, tablet or phone – our online courses are responsive and designed to work across all platforms. We also recommend that you study the courses somewhere quiet so that you can concentrate and get the most out of the rich, helpful information they contain.

  • Do I require additional resources?

    You can use the PDF copy to follow (link above).

  • Will I get a qualification or ijazah?

    If you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

  • I'm not in the UK, does that matter?

    No, absolutely not – in fact that’s one of the main reasons we developed our online courses, so that more people from around the world could benefit from our training.

  • I'm having trouble logging in, what can I do?

    If you are having problems logging in, it may be that you need to delete your browser cookies and/or empty your cache. If you’re still having trouble after having done that, then please contact us.

Testimonials

Amer Nazri | Animation Director

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❝ The classes at Lote Tree are wholesome as it is inspiring, and whether it is fiqh, seerah or tasawwuf, you leave the sessions nourished spritually and intellectually, and eager to learn more. ❞

Kamran Ahmed | Finance Director

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❝ Amazing institute that really leads the way in bringing people together! Run and managed by an amazing team. ❞

Subscribe Now!

Get the latest updates on upcoming courses and events.

Thank You