The World of Islam Dar al Islam A Kingdom of God

Arabia Before Islam - 1 Bedouin Tribes (camel nomads) Bedouin Tribes (camel nomads) –Organized by kinship –Led by Shaykhs –Large warrior class –Conflicts over power

Oasis

Camel Caravan

Towns and Trade Towns and Trade –Mecca: Center of trade  Site of the Ka’ba  Sedentary society –Yathrib  Becomes Medina  Conflict over rule (hebrews/bedouins) Arabia Before Islam - 2

Mecca

Mecca

Arabia Before Islam - 3 Society Society –Women had greater freedom than classical societies –Women had key economic role –Polygamy Culture Culture –No art/architecture –Poetry only form of art (no written language) –Religion: blend of animism and polytheism –Standards for conduct come from tribal tradition

The Rise of Islam Muhammad Muhammad –Born 570 CE –Wealthy family in Mecca –Merchant worked for Khadijah  Later married –610 CE 1 st Revelation from Angel Gabriel  Power Grew/Notables feared him

The Flight Muhammad fled Mecca to Medina Muhammad fled Mecca to Medina –Known as Hijra (Hegira) –Faith Grew –Beginning of Islam

What Does Islam Have to Offer? One religion for all tribes One religion for all tribes An Arab religion An Arab religion Closest relationship with God (Allah) Closest relationship with God (Allah) Promise of peace Promise of peace Moral-Ethical Code Moral-Ethical Code Afterlife Afterlife

5 Pillars of Islam Code of conduct Code of conduct 1)Confession of Faith 2)Prayer 3)Ramadan – Month of Fasting 4)Zakat – Almsgiving 5)Hajj – Pilgrimage

Aim: Islamic Empires in Southwest Asia

The Islamic World Problem of Succession Problem of Succession –Muhammad dies  who’s next? –Caliph: Political and religious successor –1 st Caliph: Abu Bakr  632 – 634  Ridda Wars: against apostosy and rebels

Motives for Expansion Common cause and strength Common cause and strength Stand up against non-arab oppression Stand up against non-arab oppression Booty (treasure) Booty (treasure) Glorify Religion Glorify Religion

Military Conquest Muslim Strengths Muslim Strengths –Religious Zeal –Courage –Military Prowess Weak Enemies – N. Africa, Mesopotamia, Persia, Byzantine Weak Enemies – N. Africa, Mesopotamia, Persia, Byzantine

Expansion Defeated Persians (Sasanian Empire) Defeated Persians (Sasanian Empire) Won battles against Byzantines Won battles against Byzantines Reached C. Asia (conflict with Buddhism) Reached C. Asia (conflict with Buddhism) Conquered Spain Conquered Spain Battle of Tours – 732 CE held out of France Battle of Tours – 732 CE held out of France Muslims controlled Mediterranean (NAVY) Muslims controlled Mediterranean (NAVY) 8 th Century – NW India 8 th Century – NW India

The Islamic Caliphate

The Split Divisions in Islamic Community Divisions in Islamic Community The Spark for conflict The Spark for conflict SUNNI/SHIITE SUNNI/SHIITE The Sunni (Umayyad) and Shi’a (Ali) The Sunni (Umayyad) and Shi’a (Ali) –Division in Muslim society –Sunni 85% –Shi’a 15%

Umayyad Society 1 Political center at Damascus (Syria) Political center at Damascus (Syria) Only Muslim Arabs were 1 st class citizens Only Muslim Arabs were 1 st class citizens Dhimmi – “People of the Book” Dhimmi – “People of the Book” –Christianity and Judaism Mawali – Muslim Converts Mawali – Muslim Converts

Gender Roles in Muslim Society Women had a role in Islamic society Women had a role in Islamic society Equality before God Equality before God Contributions of Women Contributions of Women –1 st Martyr –Hadiths: Traditions of the prophet (recorded by women) –Women could have jobs

Umayyad Decline Leadership focused on personal pleasure Leadership focused on personal pleasure No more expansion No more expansion Abandoned simple, frugal lifestyle Abandoned simple, frugal lifestyle 747 CE – Warriors revolted under Abbasid Party 747 CE – Warriors revolted under Abbasid Party

Abbasid Rule Harsh Rule Harsh Rule –Eliminated Umayyads –Rejected former allies (Shi’a, Malawi) Moved Capital to Baghdad Moved Capital to Baghdad

Abbasid Government Strong Central Power Strong Central Power –Absolute Rulers –Increasing Bureaucracy  Wazir – Chief Administrator –Royal Executioner (Harsh Rule) –Fairly Efficient

Conversion No more dividing treasure No more dividing treasure Mass Conversions Mass Conversions –Berbers –Persians –Turks Converts could hold important positions Converts could hold important positions Persians cam to dominate positions in administration Persians cam to dominate positions in administration

Economics 1 Large Merchant and Landlord Class Large Merchant and Landlord Class –Increased urbanization –Revived afro-eurasian trading network –Dhows: Sailing vessels with triangular (lateen) sails –Cooperative with Christians and Jews –Profits reinvested: commerce, mansions, land, mosques, schools, baths and hospitals

Economics 2 Artisans and Craftspeople Artisans and Craftspeople –Low wages –Valued skills –Formed guildlike organizations Slave Class Slave Class –Slaves could earn freedom –Mostly non-muslims –Worst was rural labor and salt mines

Economics 3 Ayan – Wealthy landed elite Ayan – Wealthy landed elite –Large estates in country –Soldiers, Old Land Owners, Merchants –Peasants did not own land

Abbasid Caliphate Harun al-Rashid (786 – 809) Harun al-Rashid (786 – 809) –Entertained Charlemagne's Emissaries –Dependent of Persian Advisors –Death led to civil war

Abbasid Coins

Julius Köckert's painting of Harun al-Rashid

Problems of Caliphate Overspending Overspending –New imperial sites –More spending = More taxes Villages are pillaged and abandoned Villages are pillaged and abandoned Irrigation falls apart Irrigation falls apart Floods, Famine Floods, Famine PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION

Changing Role of Women Increased subjugation Increased subjugation –Veil –Harem Rich Women – No Careers (less rights) Rich Women – No Careers (less rights) –Slaves often had more freedom –Peasants could work to support family

Losing Control Internal struggles prevented caliphs from defending losses in outer territory Internal struggles prevented caliphs from defending losses in outer territory Lost Egypt and Syria Lost Egypt and Syria 945 – Buyids of Persia capture Baghdad 945 – Buyids of Persia capture Baghdad 1055 – Seljuk Turks from Central Asia took control 1055 – Seljuk Turks from Central Asia took control

Christian Crusades More of an impact on Western Europe More of an impact on Western Europe Christians had initial success due to lack of Muslim preparedness Christians had initial success due to lack of Muslim preparedness 1099 Jerusalem was taken and Muslims and Jews were massacred 1099 Jerusalem was taken and Muslims and Jews were massacred