1. Two Scientific Revolutions The Birth and Rise of the Caliphate

2. Epistemic and Political Authority Piety and Knowledge Experience and Knowledge Prudence and Knowledge

3. Muhammad’s Nature A man carrying a message The vessel of God’s word

4. Muhammad’s Heritage: The Caliphate Political Authority: a. First among equals b. Muhammad’s Choice c. Precedence in Islam

5. Muhammad’s Heritage: The Caliphate Religious Authority: a. Precedence in Islam b. Closeness to Muhammad c. Divine Providence

6. The Empire: Apostasy Wars What are the Apostasy Wars? Results a. Threat to Unity b. Consolidation of the Elites c. Tribalism; reconsidered

7. The Empire: Succession Traditional Solution; Collective Rule The Choice of Umar I The Council of Six Abd Allah ibn Umar I

8. The Empire: The Civil War Alī ibn Abī Ṭ ālib The Tribes and Muhammad’s family Old and New Elites Disintegration of Medina Community

9. The Empire: The Umayyads

10. The Abbasid Revolution Arabs and Persians Old and New Legitimacy New Elites

11. Problems and Questions Succession The Abbasid Civil War New Culture New Elites and Armies

12. Two Scientific Revolutions The Birth and Rise of the Caliphate