Chap 13 Pt 2 Islam’s Expansion

The Umayyad Dynasty ( CE) From Meccan merchant class Brought stability to the Islamic community Capital: Damascus, Syria Associated with Arab military aristocracy Policy toward Conquered Peoples Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

The Abbasid Dynasty ( CE) Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750 –Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab) Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion Content to administer the empire inherited Dar al-Islam – House of Islam – Muslim lands Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces

Abbasid Administration (a.k.a.?) Persian influence Court at Baghdad Influence of Islamic scholars Ulama and qadis sought to develop policy based on the Quran and sharia Define? Caliph Harun al-Rashid ( CE) High point of Abbasid dynasty Baghdad center of commerce Great cultural activity

Abbasid Decline (Similar, different than other empires?) Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid Provincial governors assert regional independence Dissenting sects, heretical movements Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne

Economy of the Early Islamic World Spread of food and industrial crops –Trade routes from India to Spain Western diet adapts to wide variety New crops adapted to different growing seasons –Agricultural sciences develop –Cotton, paper industries develop Major cities emerge

Formation of a Hemispheric Trading Zone Historical precedent of Arabic trade Dar al-Islam encompasses silk routes –ice exported from Syria to Egypt in summer, 10 th century Camel caravans Maritime trade Banking and Trade Scale of trade causes banks to develop –Sakk ( “ check ” ) Uniformity of Islamic law throughout dar al-Islam promotes OR inhibits trade? Joint ventures common WHY?

Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) Muslim Berber conquerors from North Africa take Spain, early 8 th c. Allied to Umayyads, refused to recognize Abbasid dynasty –Formed own caliphate –Tensions, but interrelationship

Changing Status of Women Quran improves status of women –Outlawed female infanticide –Brides, not husbands, claim dowries Yet male dominance preserved –Patrilineal descent –Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden –DEFINE? –Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice

Formation of an Islamic Cultural Tradition Islamic values –Uniformity of Islamic law in dar al-Islam –Establishment of madrasas –Importance of the Hajj Sufi missionaries –Asceticism, mysticism –Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians –Wide popularity

Heading? Al-Ghazali ( ) Major Sufi thinker from Persia Impossibility of intellectual apprehension of Allah, devotion, mystical ecstasy instead Cultural influences on Islam Persia –Administration and governance –literature India –Mathematics, science, medicine “ Hindi ” numbers Greece –Philosophy, esp. Aristotle –Ibn Rushd/Averroes ( )