Judith Zampella
Susan E. Wagner High School

Reaction Paper

The Venture of Islam, Conscience and History in a World Civilization Volume 3, The Gunpowder Empires and Modern Times

By Marshall G. S. Hodgson, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, 1974.

    Hodgson’s collection of three volumes on Islam provides the reader an intensive exploration of the history of Islamic societies. In Volume 3, he focuses on the Gunpowder Empires and modern times and covers a vast geographic range. He discusses the political, religious, cultural, social, and economic aspects of Islamic society and how the Gunpowder Empires had a great effect on all the communities they encountered.

    Volume Three contains Book Five and Book Six of the series. Book Five is titled “Second Flowering: The Empires of Gunpowder Times Prologue to Book Five.” It contains four parts: I-“The Safavi Empire: Triumph of the Shi’ah, 1503-1722,” II-“The Indian Timuri Empire: Coexistence of Muslims and Hindus, 1526-1707,” III-“The Ottoman Empire: Shari’ah-Military Alliance, 1517-1718,” and IV-“Before the Deluge: The Eighteenth Century.” Book Six is titled “The Islamic Heritage in the Modern World” and contains seven parts: I-“The Impact of the Great Western Transmutation: The Generation of 1789,” II-“European World Hegemony: The Nineteenth Century,” III-“Modernism in Turkey: Westernization,” IV-“Egypt and East Arab Lands: Revival of the Heritage,” V-“Iran and the Russian Empire: The Dream of Revolution,” VI-“Muslim India: Communalism and Universalism,” VII-“The Drive for Independence: The Twentieth Century.” The Volume ends with an Epilogue: The Islamic Heritage and the Modern Conscience.

    This collection of historical information is a great resource for teachers. The index is very detailed and will help teachers to focus on most topics. Throughout the book, the author provides very complete timelines relating to the contacts between Islamic societies and the rest of the world. There are many maps as well, which describe sea routes and areas conquered as well as the extent of the different empires that rose and fell during these times. Hodgson also relates old Muslim tales as he describes certain societies. These could be used as readings for students in class. On page 75, he describes a myth that makes a flattering comparison of Akbar’s mother with the Virgin Mary. In the section entitled, “Before the Deluge: The Eighteenth Century,” he provides a map of Islamic lands before nineteenth century European expansion. This could be easily transferred to a transparency and used in the classroom.

    In the prologue to Book Six he provides an extensive timeline of Islamic heritage in the modern world. This section is divided by region and includes The Ottoman Empire and Turkey, Egypt, Iran, India, The Fertile Crescent and the Arabian Peninsula. It covers the time period from 1800 to 1950. In section IV of Book Six, Hodgeson provides a thorough examination of Egypt and East Arab lands and includes such topics as Egyptian nationalism and Arab nationalism. He also presents a very good five-page description of Zionism that could easily be used as a reading in class. In his coverage of Muslim India he provides a complete historical account of such events as the age of Gandhi and the developments in Pakistan.

    In Section VII, The Drive for Independence: The Twentieth Century, Hodgson describes the progression of colonialism as well as the events that surround the end of colonialism around 1949-1962. He discusses how independence and interdependence are related. In the epilogue he considers Islamic heritage and the modern conscience. He seems to feel that Muslims form an integral part of modern world society and that their destinies can no longer be disengaged (p411). He discusses the rise in religious fervor and the question of morality in Islamic societies today. He feels that it is a question for Muslims as well as for all other heirs of a religious heritage how far any creative vision for the future can extend.

    I found The Venture of Islam, Volume Three to be a very detailed account of the history of Islamic civilization. It was difficult reading, but I feel that the entire series of three volumes should be a part of a teacher’s library. Marshall G. S. Hodgson provides his readers with a valuable reference. His series runs in chronological order and includes personal descriptions, quotes, stories, legends, and myths. He describes geographical locations and the problems that arise because of location. He compares and contrasts simultaneous communities and the demographics of the populations involved. He makes correlations between the various religions and their effect on each other. I found it to be very readable as a reference. It contains a good variety of maps and timelines that could be transferred to transparencies and used in the classroom. It is very informative for teachers but I would not assign it to high school students.