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Orientalist Projection of Muslim Expansionism in Medieval South Asia: A Critical Analysis
Imtiaz Hussain
Abstract:
This paper critically examines the Orientalist portrayal of Muslim expansion in medieval South Asia, shaped largely by Eurocentric ideologies and colonial interests. While many Orientalist historians depicted Muslim rule as despotic and culturally destructive, they ignored its peaceful dimensions and lasting contributions. Drawing on Edward Said’s theory of hegemonic Orientalism and Peter Heehs’ call for a differentiated view, the study analyses how contemporary European thought influenced historical narratives. Through the contrasting case studies of James Mill’s Utilitarianism and Mountstuart Elphinstone’s Romanticism, it highlights the varied and often conflicting representations of Muslim expansionism within Orientalist historiography.
Keywords:
Orientalism, Despotism, Invasions, Expansions, Utilitarianism, Romanticism, Indigenous Responses, Colonial, Nationalist, Projection
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