The Arab Empire and Its Successors

Creation of an Arab Empire  Muhammad’s death posed a problem because he had not named a successor and didn’t have a male heir.  His closest followers selected Abu Bakr as his successor.  In 632 Bakr was named Caliph.

Arab Conquest  Abu Bakr was able to suppress political and religious uprisings, uniting the Muslim world.  The Quran permitted fair, defensive warfare as Jihad, “struggle in the way of God”.  At Yarmuk, in 636, the Arab army defeated the Byzantine army, and four years later took control of Syria.  By 650, the Arab Empire had grown to include Egypt and other parts of northern Africa, and the entire Persian Empire.

Arab Rule  After the death of Abu Bakr, there was no clear successor, and a number of caliphs were assassinated.  In the conquered territories, the Arab administrators were tolerant.  Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their religions.  Those who didn’t convert to Islam only had to be loyal to Muslim rule and pay taxes.

The Umayyad Empire  In 661, the general Mu’awiyah became caliph.  He moved to make the office of caliph, called the caliphate, hereditary.  This established the Umayyad dynasty.  Mu’awiyah moved the capital of the Arab Empire from Madinah to Damascus in Syria.  The Arab Empire expanded into southern Europe in the West and western Asia to the border of the Byzantine Empire.

Continued…  As a result, the Arab Empire would be influenced by Byzantine and Persian culture.  Because the empire was so vast it was difficult to rule from a capital so far away.  A revolt led by Hussein in present day Iraq led to a split of Islam into two groups.  Shia – descendants of Ali as the true rulers.  Sunni – didn’t agree with Umayyad rule, but accepted them as caliphs.

Abbasid Dynasty  Overthrew the Abbasid dynasty and lasted from 750 to  Abbasid Empire moved the capital to Baghdad.  Abbasid caliphs encouraged charity and supported artists and writers.  A shortage of qualified Arabs for key positions in the army and civil service led to non-Arab people coming to power.  Eventually the Muslim Empire split politically.

Seljuk Turks  Seljuk Turks were nomads from central Asia who were hired as nonnative soldiers.  In 1055 a Turkish leader captured Baghdad and took control of the empire under the title of Sultan, “holder of power”.

The Crusades  Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked the Christian states of Europe for help.  Europeans agreed and a series of crusades began in  Saladin made himself sultan of Egypt in 1169 and took the offensive against the Christians.  Saladin and his forces invaded and conquered Jerusalem in 1187.