Chapter 7 Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia

Extent of Abbasid Empire at it’s height

I. The Islamic Heartlands in the Middle and Late Abbasid Eras Abbasid empire weakened, 9th-13th centuries peasant revolts Al-Mahdi (775-785) Shi-a unreconciled succession not secure 1st: Why were they weakened? Courtly excesses and political divisions contribute to decline 2nd: Al Mahdi (3rd Abbasis Caliph) Tried to reconcile Shi’a opposition to Abbasid rule, but ends in failure Estab. life of luxury; financial drain MOST CRITICALLY: Failed to solve problem of succession Allowed too many people to enter into discussion as to who would be his successor

The Abbasid Empire at Its Peak

I. The Islamic Heartlands in the Middle and Late Abbasid Eras A. Imperial Extravagance and Succession Disputes Harun al-Rashid son of al-Mahdi The Thousand and One Nights Barmicides Persian advisors death followed by civil war al-Ma'mun B. Imperial Breakdown and Agrarian Disorder Civil unrest Caliphs build lavishly tax burden increases agriculture suffers A. Extravagance: Emissaries sent from Charlemagne Muslims showed splendor of living in Baghdad (palaces, treasure troves, sent back intricate water clock & elephant) 1001 Night Extravagance immortalized in this tale, set in his day of Baghdad Persian Advisors b/c of age, al-Rashid becomes dependent on a family of Persian advisors (SOURCE OF WEAKNESS) DEATH: Prompted 1st of civil wars over succession Al-Ma’mun won war, sons convinced they needed to build their own armies in anticipation of fight for throne upon death of father LEADS TO SLAVE MERCENARY ARMIES (OFTEN REAL POWER BEHIND THRONE) B. Last decades of 9th century, slave armies brought under control for 1st time COST: Battles drain treasury and alienate subjects of Abbasids Some caliphs’ try to build mosques, palaces further and further away from Baghdad to escape turmoil RESULT: Adds to cost Expense falls on peasantry of central provinces of empire

I. The Islamic Heartlands in the Middle and Late Abbasid Eras C. The Declining Position of Women in the Family and Society Seclusion, veil, harem Diff b/t rich and poor women? D. Nomadic Incursions and the Eclipse of Caliphal Power Former provinces threaten Abbasids Buyids, Persia take Baghdad, 945 Sultans Seljuk Turks 1055, defeat Buyids Sunnis Shi'a purges defeat Byzantines, Egypt E. The Impact of the Christian Crusades 1096, Western European Christian knights small kingdoms established Saladin retakes lands last in 1291 C. Harem/veil are symbols of subjugation to men & confinement to home in Abbasid RICH: allowed almost no career beyond home POOR: farmed, wove, raised silkworms MARRIED AT PUBERTY (AGE 9) BY END OF ABBASID, FREEDOMS THAT WOMEN ENJOYED IN 1ST CENTURIES OF ISLAMIC EMPIRE HAD BEEN CURTAILED D. More focused on struggles in capital, outer reaches get out of hand More and more break a way from capital BUYIDS: Capture Baghdad, caliphs now puppets controlled by Buyids Took on title of “sultan” (victorious) SELJUK TURKS: E. Determined to capture the portions of the Islamic world that made up the Holy Land of biblical times 1st CRUSADE: Successful due to Muslim political divisions and element of surprise Jerusalem taken back in June 1099 8 TOTAL CRUSADES Posed little threat to more powerful Muslim princes – disregard was demonstrated by the fact that they continued to quarrel among themselves despite intruders’ aggression Saladin: Strong Muslim ruler; Muslims reconquer most of Crusdaer outposts IMPACT OF CRUSADES: MUCH GREATER ON CHRISTIANS WHO LAUNCHED THEM THAN ON MUSLIM PEOPLES WHO HAD TO FEND THEM OFF

Buyid Empire

II. An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinements Urban growth Merchants thrive A. The Full Flowering of Persian Literature Persian now the court language; replaces Arabic as primary written language administration, literature Arabic in religion, law, sciences Calligraphy Firdawsi (author) Shah-Nama epic poem DESPITE DECLINING REVENUE BASE OF CALIPHATE AND DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN COUNTRYSIDE, THERE WAS A GREAT EXPANSION IN THE PROFESSIONAL CLASSES – DOCTORS, SCHOLARS, LEGAL, & RELIGIOUS EXPERTS So, even as Abbasids declined, Islamic civilization reached new heights of creativity and entered into a new age of expansion *Long distance trade b/t Mid East & Med. Europe & b/t coastal India and island SE Asia flourishes (in addition to overland trade through China)* Who benefitted from sustained urban prosperity? - artists and artisans (mosques/palaces grow larger and larger and more ornate) - rugs of Muslim peoples (Persians) were in great demand, and are to this day A. Chief language of “high culture” Was the language of literary expression Supple language very beautiful to look at SHAH NAMA: Relates the history of Persia from the beginnings of time to the Islamic conquests, and it has much detail on battles, love affairs Often times read to musical accompaniment

II. An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinements B. Achievements in the Sciences Math build on Greek work Chemistry Experiments Al-Biruni specific weights of 18 minerals Medicine Hospitals courses of study B. Preserved and compiled learning of ancient civilizations they had conquered Increasingly became creators and inventors in their own right FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES, (MUCH OF ABBASID RULE), ISLAMIC CIV OUTDID ALL OTHERS IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, NEW TECHNIQUES OF INVESTIGATION, AND NEW TECHNOLGIES CHEMISTRY: Creation of objective experiment & classifying all material substances MAPPED THE STARS – GREAT DEMAND AMONG SCHOLARS OF OTHER CIVILIZATIONS MEDICINE: Cairo – some of the best hospitals in the world Dr’s and pharmacists had to follow a regular course of study and pass formal exam

II. An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinements C. Religious Trends and the New Push for Expansion Sufis Mysticism Much of religious vitality centered on this movement Ulama Conservative against outside influence Greek philosophy rejected Qur'an sufficient Al-Ghazali (thinker; theologian) synthesis of Greek, Qur'anic ideas opposed by orthodoxy D. New Waves of Nomadic Invasions and the End of the Caliphate Mongols Chinggis Khan Hulegu (grandson) 1258, Baghdad falls last Abbasid killed C. Contradictory trends in Islamic civilization A split, essentially, between orthodox and expansion SUFI: Wandering mystics who sought a personal union with Allah ULAMA: Increasingly hostile to non-Islamic ideas and scientific thinking Believed that Quran was the final, perfect, and complete revelation of an all-knowing divinity D. 10th and 11th centuries, Abbasid domains were divided by ever growing #’s of rival successor states Early 13th century: Eastern edge of original Abbasid domains MOGOLS, united by Ghenghis Khan Raid in 1220s Khan dies before heartland of world invaded, but grandson Hulegu renews attacks in 1250s

III. The Coming of Islam to South Asia By 1200, Muslims rule much of north, central Conflict between two different systems Hindu religion v. Muslim monotheism Muslim egalitarianism v. Indian caste system

The Spread of Islam, 10th-16th Centuries

This changes in last years of 7th century What did India encounter when Muslims entered India? Why were they not used to this? India used to absorbing peoples into their empire; results from the strength and flexibility of India’s civilizations and from the fact that India’s peoples usually enjoyed a higher level of material culture than migrant groups entering subcontinent This changes in last years of 7th century When Muslims arrive, peoples of India encounter, for the 1st time, a large influx of bearers of a civilization as sophisticated, if not as ancient, as their own Hinduism: Open, tolerant, inclusive of widely varying forms of religious devotion Validate caste hierarchy Islam: Doctrinaire, committed to the exclusive worship of a single, transcendent god Highly egalitarian

III. The Coming of Islam to South Asia A. Political Divisions and the First Muslim Invasions First Muslims as traders, 8th century attack lead to invasion Muhammad ibn Qasim Umayyad general (17 yrs old) takes Sind, Indus valleys Indians treated as dhimmi B. Indian Influences on Islamic Civilization Math, medicine, music, astronomy India influences Arab A. 1st invasion – 711 CE Resulted from trading contacts ATTACK: Pirates attack Arab traders – pirates from Sind, on western coast of India Viceroy (ruler) of easetrn provinces to launch against King of Sind Several fiercely fought battles, Qasim declared region provinces of Umayyad Empire Brought little change in coming centuries for most inhabitants of Indian subcontinent B. PROVIDES CONTACTS BY WHICH INDIAN LEARNING WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE MUSLIM HEARTLANDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST (THROUGH SIND) RESULT: Islamic civilization was enriched by skills and discoveries of yet another great civilization NUMERALS: Arabs begin using numerals that Hindu scholars had devised earlier

III. The Coming of Islam to South Asia C. From Booty to Empire: The Second Wave of Muslim Invasions 10th century, Turkish slave dynasty established in Afghanistan Mahmud of Ghazni begins invasion of India Muhammad of Ghur Persian Estb. Political state in Indus valley his lieutenant, Qutb-ud-Din Aibak forms state capital at Delhi Delhi sultanate rules for 300 years D. Patterns of Conversion Converts especially among Buddhists, lower castes, untouchables also conversion to escape taxes C. Over time, Muslim hold from Umayyads and Abbasids gradually weakens in India Hindu rulers reconquest lower Indus Valley RETREAT DRAMATICALLY REVERSED BY A NEW SERIES OF MILITARY INVASIONS IN 962 CE 3rd ruler of this slave dynasty (Mahmud) Leads a series of expeditions to conquest northern India GHUR: Raids turned into political conquests in N. India Key figure in this was Muhammad of Ghur Brought back under his control D. Muslims fought their way in, but interaction with indigenous peoples soon came to be dominated by accommodation and peaceful exchanges Few converts won forcibly Main carriers often merchants Most that converted came from Buddhist or lower-caste groups

III. The Coming of Islam to South Asia E. Patterns of Accommodation High-caste Hindus remain apart Muslims also often fail to integrate F. Stand-off: The Muslim Presence in India at the End of the Sultanate Period Brahmins v. ulama > separate communities E. Hindu attitude toward Muslims: Remained socially aloof from their conquerors Sep living quarters established Genuine friendships b/t high caste groups and Muslims were rare WHY? During early centuries of Muslim influx, Hindus convinced that like so many of the peoples who had entered before them, the Muslims would be absorbed by superior religions and more sophisticated culture of India WOMEN: Muslim influence had neg consequences for both Muslim and Hindu women Marrying men at earlier ages Sati – high caste ritual (burning of widows on same funeral pyre as their deceased husbands) F. Brahmins sense long term threat to Hinduism posed by Muslim political dominance and conversion efforts, so they denounce Muslims as infidel destroyers of Hindu temples and polluted meat eaters Muslim ulama (religious experts) grew increasingly aware of the dangers Hinduism posed for Islam ATTEMPTS TO FUSE 2 FAITHS WERE REJECTED ON GROUNDS THAT ALTHOUGH HINDUS MIGHT ARGUE THAT SPECIFIC RITUALS AND BELIEFS WERE NOT ESSENTIAL, THEY WERE FUNDAMENTAL FOR ISLAM LONG TERM: AFTER CENTURIES OF MUSLIM POLITICAL DOMINANCE AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITY, SOUTH ASIA REMAINED ONE OF THE LEAST CONVERTED AND INTEGRATED OF ALL THE AREAS MUHAMMAD’S MESSAGE HAD REACHED

IV. The Spread of Islam to Southeast Asia Shrivijaya Trading empire that collapses A. Trading Contacts and Conversion Trading leads to peaceful conversion starting with Sumatran ports in NE (13th century) Malacca Powerful trading city Islam spread from here Coastal cities especially receptive Buddhist elites, but population converts to Islam Island SE Asia has long been mainly a middle ground – zone where Chinese segment of great Euro-Asian trading complex met the Indian Ocean trading zone to the west Goods from China transferred from east to Arab or Indian ships In same ports, products from Rome make their way east HUGE TRADE CENTER FOR WORLD Trading links prove critical to expansion of Islam in SE Asia Shrivijaya - 13th century (centered on Strait of Malacca b/t Malaya and NE Sumatra) - open now to spread of Islam after fall of this empire - rulers of Shrivijaya devout Buddhists, but with fall of them, incentives increase to convert to Islam A. Progress of Islamic conversion shows that port cities in coastal areas were particularly receptive to the new faith; where trading links were critical