The Middle Ages: Asia and Africa 600-1450 The Islamic World

Question #1 On the T chart, Describe how the Islamic Caliphates developed and list the political, economic, and social effects of the spread of Islam.

Causes Arab soldiers committed to the promise of plunder unified around Islam and conquered territory from Spain to India across North Africa, Arabia and Anatolia Weak Sassanid (Persian/Iran) and Byzantine Empires made conquest easier Followers were attracted to ideas of equality among believers and familiar with monotheism from Jewish and Christian traditions Effects Caliphate’s introduced bureaucratic structure and established first Muslim Empire Arabs, Persians and other groups unified politically and culturally as Muslims Trade flourished, as merchants agreed on a common set of Muslim business dealings Intellectual development led to algebra, preservation of Classical texts especially those of the Greeks Mosques, hospitals, schools, orphanages and the House of Wisdom were built Islam spread via trade routes to West Africa and to Southeast via the Indian Ocean to Central Asia and China via the Silk Routes

Muslim Empire How could the extent of the Muslim empire affect Africa? New languages, Trade, Cultural Diffusion, Religion, Math, Medicine, Moral Conduct, Family Life, Business Matters, tax to help the poor

Question #2 What was the political, economic, and social impact of Islam on Europe ?

What was the political, economic, and social impact of Islam on Europe? Battle of Tours in 732AD stopped the Muslim advance into Europe and left only Spain in Muslim control. In 1096 Western Christians marched through the Byzantine Empire to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. This conflict brought about the end of the feudal system in Western Europe.

Battle of Tours

Impact of the Caliphates on Europe Cont’. Economic Increased interaction with the Islamic Empire during the Crusades led to a revival of European trade with Asia. This trade led to a rise in the economic prosperity of Western Europe Social Increased interaction with the Islamic Empire as a result of the Crusades opened Europeans up to new knowledge of science, medicine, and technology from the Muslims. Cordoba Spain was a cultural hub of the Islamic Empire in Europe. Europeans adopted Indian numerals from the Muslims

Fatimid Empire (909-1171) Capital: Cairo Abbasid Empire (750-1258) Capital: Baghdad

Question #3 What was the political, economic, and social impact of Islam on Africa?

What was the political, economic, and social impact of Islam on Africa? Trade kingdoms emerged in West Africa – Ghana, Mali, & Songhay and rulers converted to Islam to gain trade advantages Eastern coastal city-states gained power as rulers converted to Islam Economic Trans-Saharan trade grew with trade in salt, gold and slaves. Eastern coastal city-states were a source of slaves in Indian Ocean Trade Complex.

Impact of the Caliphates on Africa Cont’. Social Islam spread to sub-Saharan African through trade contacts mostly merchants and rulers who converted, such as Mansa Musa of Mali. Local beliefs mixed with Islamic beliefs Swahili – mix of Bantu and Arabic became widespread

Indian Ocean Trade Network The Indian Ocean Trade Network thrived as Muslim merchants traded with Indian and Chinese merchants.

Increased interaction with the Islamic Empire during the Crusades led to a revival of European trade with Asia. This trade led to a rise in the economic prosperity of Western Europe. Slaves, ivory, gold, and iron from Africa Porcelain from China Pottery from Burma Cloth from India

Silk Road Trade Silks and porcelain from China Woolen and linen cloth, glass, horses and ivory from other trading partners The interaction of peoples from various areas allowed the spread of Buddhism and Christianity These interactions also spurred European interest in finding a water route to China

Trans-Sahara Trade Sub-Sahara Africa had lots of gold, little salt—the Mediterranean had little gold, lots of salt Slaves, ivory, gold and iron came from below the Sahara Salt, cloth and metalware came from the Sahara

Trans-Sahara Trade These trade routes helped the rise of African empires and kingdoms in West Africa These trade routes helped to spread Islam through West Africa

The Silk Road Helped to spread ideas and trade The Silk Roads included not only land routes but also sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

Silk Road Trade 600-1450 Silk Road Trade under the Tang and the Mongols was protected and the Mongols kept it safe. During this time the Silk Road Trade flourished and allowed people from different countries with different ideas to meet and interact through trade. In fact the Mongols were responsible to carrying the bubonic plague into Eurasia over the Silk Road

Trans-Sahara Trade There was an increase in the use of trade routes during this period (600-1450) The use of camels, caravans and Berber traders increased contact with Muslims. This route connected West Africa with the Muslim world and beyond

Question # 4 How did Muslims, Christians and Jews interact Europe? Question #5 How did the Muslim and Hindu societies interact in Asia?

How did Muslims, Christians and Jews interact? Europe: NOTES Jews were ostracized in European communities and often forced to live in independent communities (ghettos) Many Jews lived in Spain under control of the Moors (Muslims in Spain)—the Jews were treated well as Muslim values of toleration were practiced

How did Muslims, Christians and Jews interact? Asia: Throughout the Asian world (specifically in the Southwest Asia) the monotheistic faiths were somewhat tolerant of Islam and were tolerant of “each other”, provided they paid the Jizya (tax on non-believers).

How did Muslims, Christians and Jews interact? Jews were integral to the Abbasid and later Islamic Empires. As a rule Muslims are not allowed to charge interest. They were able to circumnavigate this rule by allowing Jews to extend credit and monitor trade networks. Most prominent interaction between Muslims and Christians took place during the Crusades, a series of wars that lasted from 1096-1291

How did Muslims, Christians and Jews interact? North Africa As Islam entered northern Africa some kingdoms remained Christian such as Nubian, Ethiopia, and the Coptic in Egypt. North Africa provided many converts to Islam