Sunni v. Shi’a 3 rd caliph murdered over booty issues Ali, relative of Muhammad = caliph Fighting! Mu’awiya (1 st Umayyad caliph) says HE’S caliph Ali killed by Umayyads Husayn (Ali’s son) killed in 680 (10,000 v. 72) – all killed; the final split. Shi’a = “Party of Ali” Sunni = “The Majority”
Umayyads Expansion (central Asia, N.W. India, N. Africa, Spain) Capital = Damascus (modern Syria) Arab conquest state Bureaucracy – small Arab elite ruled over non-Arab, non-Muslim populations Segregated into garrison towns to prevent mixing
People of the Book Christians and Jews paid extra taxes, but tolerated non-Arab converts still had extra taxes few conversions
Family & Gender Roles Women’s status high, at first Active in politics, commerce (Pastoralist background!) Lost power over time – patriarchal like the rest
Umayyad Decline & Fall REVOLT of warriors Led by Abbasids Mawali & Shias joined Abbasids
Abbasid Caliphate Centralized, absolutist Capital = Baghdad. Imitated Persian culture Vizir = chief advisor
From Arab to Islamic Empire: Abbasids non-Arab Converts fully integrated – no more booty system Greater opportunities for all to advance careers, education LOTS of conversions
Abbasid Economy & Culture City & Trade! Learning Trade & Hajj = constant and quick ideas exchange Ancient authors translated (especially Greek!!!)
Abbasid Decline Overexpansion & succession problems (fratricide)! Led to caliph hiring personal armies of Turkic Central Asian nomads (slave soldiers) Centralization breaks down into various smaller segments Mamluk & Seljuk Turks really run the gov’t (caliph = figurehead) Mongols