The Rise and Spread of Islam (YOU CAN DO RESEARCH FOR EVIDENCE!!!!!) Dates Pre-Islam (Bedouins) Umayyad Dynasty Abbasid Dynasty 632-661 CE 4 early caliphs (established/took over from Umayyads-- 661-750 CE Umayyads dynasty 750-1258 CE) 508 years (only 89 years total) -polytheistic and animistic -Sunni Muslim -Shia Muslim Religion - a few Christians and Jews in the area -pilgrims worshipped at Ka ba in Mecca (trade stop) -ethical system not based in polytheism or animism -majority of the population non- Muslim: Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrianism -religious toleration, particularly of people of the book = dhimmis (Jews and Christians-fellow monotheists) -stressed conversion to Shia -80 % Muslim -religious toleration, particularly of people of the book (Jews and Christians were fellow monotheists) -conversion not a goal -large numbers of people did convert b/c of equality of all Muslims (paid less tax) Economics including trade networks -camel nomads - caravans linked trade between sedentary civilizations -many eventually settled areas that became market towns for trade (early 600s) -trade: Mediterranean and Silk Roads - artisans flourished in cities, so cities became centers for manufacturing: pottery, fabrics, rugs -banks; coins -sakks (checks exchanged for cash)=credit through banks -manufacturing: textile, sugar, ropes, silk, paper, pottery, rugs -minted their own gold/silver coins -irrigation and reservoirs to aid agriculture -Mecca important trade stop and pilgrimage site for Muslims -trade: Indian Ocean basin, Mediterranean, and Silk Roads Cultural -not much art -oral poetry -standards of morality and proper behavior rooted in tribal customs and unwritten codes of honor -other cultures were tolerated as long as obeyed laws, pd taxes, and did not revolt -Arabic became language of admin, business, law, trade and religion -architecture - mosques, hospitals, schools, orphanages were built -written poetry -standards of morality and proper behavior written into sharia -experimentation and advances in: medicine (anatomy, diseases), technology, astronomy, astrolabe from Greeks -still emphasized written literature (poetry) -Mecca important trade stop and pilgrimage site for Muslims -Persian influences: language took over the court and was used for literary expression, administration, and scholarship -Arabic language remained: religion, law, natural sciences -Golden Age of Islam (early/mid 800s) -architecture lots of building -less tolerance of non-shia Muslims and non-muslims -standards of morality and proper behavior written into sharia -preservation and extension of knowledge (House of Wisdom in Baghdad where scholars translate texts from Greece, India, Persia into Arabic) -Persian scholar (al-razi) wrote an
encyclopedia -experimentation and advances in: medicine (anatomy, diseases), technology, astronomy, astrolabe from Greeks -still emphasized literature (poetry) -calligraphy Political including response to government -clans -tribe membership based on birth -leader (shaykh) -inter-clan rivalries = less united against larger sedentary units -armies expanded empire -Umayyads took over after first four caliphs and transformed caliphate into hereditary monarchy -gov t centralized in Damascus -bureaucratic w. locals governing the territories -non-muslims could not hold highest public offices -expansion for land, not conversion -jizya tax dhimmis taxed at a higher rate -used Byzantium as an example for government and military organization -fall conquered by Abbasids, decrease in tax income due to conversions to Islam; inequality between Muslims leads to social unrest -supertribe based on religion -schools (madrasas) well established by 12 th century -conquered Ummayads in 750 -capital to Baghdad -caliphs rule (theocratic ruler) -bureaucratic style learned from Persians -governors in the territories - diplomats sent to courts in Europe to conduct business -caliphs living in luxury -gave full citizenship to non-arab Muslims -fall governors of territories increased their power; governors cease paying tribute; invasions by Seljuk Turks Social Structure including gender -wealth/status varied within clans -shaykh = wealthy -free warriors enforced decisions of shaykh (leader) -women higher status, more freedom than Sasanian and Byzantine empires -women s role: milk camels, weave cloth, raise kids, infanticide okay -descent traced through female b/c male on the move (matrilineal) -male paid bride-price to female s family for marriage -no seclusion or veils, but not = to men 4 social classes a. Muslim Arabs b. Muslim non-arabs c. non-muslim free (Christians, Jew, and Zoroastrians) d. slaves status of women (based on Quran) a. inherit property b. divorce husband c. engage in business ventures d. Qur an said equality of all before Allah (only spiritually) e. outlawed female infanticide f. dowries kept by brides g. urban upper-class women more confined by the 2 nd caliph, these rights were being stripped away and women were being veiled and secluded (ideas from Persians) 4 social classes a. Muslims at birth b. second class (converts) paid higher tax than upper (jizya) c. non-muslim free protected people dhimmis (Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians) d. slaves -status of women a. lost education and public life rights b. veils (borrowed from Persians), secluded in harems, served as concubines c. cities, upper class women worse off -slaves, concubines were needed more b/c of wealth of empire -some slaves gained freedom -more luxurious living for elite -majority of peasants were tenants to the land (rent) -reinforced male dominance; Qur an and shari a recognized descent through male line (patrilineal) so they controlled sexual and social lives of women
Greatest Extent of Ummayad Empire Answer the following questions as you read Chapters 6 and 7 Greatest Extent of Abbasid Empire Chapter 6 1. How did Islam address fundamental problems in Arabic society? Ethical system that healed social strifes (before, religion and ethics not connected) Offered possibility of an end to the feuds of the clans and political unity 2. What were the effects of the death of Muhammad? Did not name a successor nor tell how to choose one Chose Abu-Bakr as the first caliph (successor) Each of the four caliphs were murdered by rivals, and the death of Muhammad s son-in-law, Ali, in 661 CE triggered a civil war that sparked a fundamental division in the umma (Muslim community) Power struggle b/t Ali (cousin) and Hussayn (grandson) leads to split Hussayn wins = Umayyads (sunni) a. Sunni caliph from Muslim community (like Umayyads felt) b. Shi a caliph should be relative of Muhammad; rejected Umayyads authority and sought revenge for Ali s death 3. How was the dispute over the succession to the office of caliph settled by 661 CE? (656 CE) Murder of Uthman caused civil war for who would lead next Muhammad s earlier followers chose Ali, but he was rejected by Umayyads came to power 661 CE and set up hereditary system of succession, moved capital to Damascus to make controlling of conquered areas easier 4. What factors contributed to the rise of the Umayyads? 5. How did Islam unite and effectively rule diverse peoples and cultures? And spread so rapidly? Well-disciplined armies Weakness of Byzantine and Persian empires Appealing Muslims did not have to pay poll taxes
Religious toleration b/c Quran forbade forced conversion people of the book = Christians, Jewish peoples Arabic language 6. What events led to the fall of the Umayyads? Abandoned simple life of previous caliphs for wealth = revolts Caliphs built an imperial administration w/both bureaucracy and military dominated by a Muslim Arab elite; did not want to mingle with the non-muslims, which brought trouble for them Religious and political opposition --revolts b/c growing regional identities and divisions (felt people were retreating from Islamic virtues) --rebels were led by Abbasids who took over and killed remaining leaders --one prince escaped and went to Spain and set up al-andalus, which extended to North Africa Define the following vocabulary words: 1. Umma 2. Caliph 3. Sunnis 4. Shi is 5. Dhimmis 6. Delhi sultanate Chapter 7 1. What factors led to the decline and collapse of the Abbasid caliphate? Turned against shia and allies to support less tolerant sunni Islam once got power Failed to keep complete control of empire (getting too large) and most people maintained regional identities instead attaching to caliph Use of slaves (Mamluks) weakened empire; Mamluks served in army and weakened Abbasid rule Independent Muslim states began and had to deal with revolts Local leaders dominated smaller regions (ex) Fatimid Dynasty Caliphs built personal armies for protection, but they turned into powerful groups who overtook and had more influence than the caliph; turned into uncontrollable group that brought social unrest (puppet to sultan) Caliphs had to deal with decreasing treasury, expenses of palaces/mosques, overtaxing peasants, which led to abandoned irrigation works, villages, famines, riots, etc. Mid 900s breakaway former provinces challenged Abbasids, caliphs became controlled by sultans (ex) Buyids of Persia a. Political authority had become symbolic and the caliphate was broken into smaller states, but the culture of Islam united the area (Dar al-islam) 1055 Seljuk Turks would later rule 1098 - Christian Crusades 1200s Mongol invasions will adopt Islam; Mamluks stop them from getting area Politically divided, but remained unified in religion, language, trade, economy and achievement during 10-14 th centuries Ottomans come 1350ish 2. What factors served to unite Muslims across continents and diverse cultures? Dar al-islam all under Islam (areas that share a common Muslim culture as a basis of society) 3. What was the impact of Turkish migrations on Islamic civilization?
Able to come in b/c Abbasid rule only symbolic 4. What was the impact of the Christian Crusades on Islam? Not much 5. How were Sufis different from other Muslims? Reacted to the luxurious lives of the later caliphs by pursuing a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path; meditation, chanting Sought an emotional and mystic union with Islam; achieve this by sermons, singing, and dancing It was a reaction against the impersonal and abstract divinity many ulama scholars argued was the true god of the Quran; insisted on a clear distinction between Allah and humans (wanted personal union with Allah) Responsible for spreading the Muslim religion in many parts of Asia b/c built a sizable following in the later centuries of the Abbasid caliphate Some gained reputations as healers and workers of miracles; others led militant bands to spread Islam to nonbelievers; 6. How was Islam different than Hinduism? Islam = doctrinate, proselytizing (induce someone to convert to your religion), committed to worship of only one god; socially, it was egalitarian (all believers equal in the sight of God) Hinduism = open, tolerant and inclusive of varying forms of religious devotion, from idol worship to meditation in search of union with the spiritual source of all creation; socially followed caste system 7. Who conquered the Sind in western India and the Indus Valley for the Umayyad empire? Political divisions left north India open to Muslim invasions beginning in 711 after the end of Harsha s reign (death in 646) Muhammad ibn Qasim, despite quarrels among succeeding Muslim dynasties 8. What was life like for Indians under Muslim rule early on? Brought little change; local leaders allowed Muslims to take over districts b/c promised lighter taxation and religious tolerance; called Hindus and Buddhists people of the book, so although they had to pay special taxes, they could continue freedom to worship Most indigenous officials kept their positions 9. What influence did Indians have on Muslim culture? Algebra and geometry works translated into Arabic Instruments for celestial observation were improved by Arab astronomers Numerals devised by Hindu scholars later called Arabic numerals Physicians ran hospitals in Muslim Empire b/c advanced Musical instruments and melodies Adopted Indian dress, hairstyles, foods, building styles, rode elephants 10. What motivated Mahmud of Ghazni (Turk from Afghanistan) to conquer India in the 11 th century? What was the capital of the new empire? Wealth of the subcontinent and goal to spread the Muslim faith; not interested in conquering Delhi (significant b/c in the center of the subcontinent, so it showed Muslims strength had grown into the Indian area) Delhi sultanate ruled for next 300 years; succession of Persian, Afghan, Turkish, and mixed descent named themselves sultans of Delhi (they fought each other, Mongol and Turkish invaders, and indigenous Hindu princes for control; had military, bureaucracy but factional struggles limited the actual control exercised by any of these dynasties) Hindus = majority in military 11. To what extent were the Muslims successful in converting India to Islam?
No forced conversion; at end of Sultanate period, majority still Hindu Merchants and Sufis carried Islam to areas Buddhists were the most numerous converts b/c of spiritual decline Untouchables and low-caste Hindus and animistic tribal peoples Converted to avoid head tax; also b/c of intermarriages; Muslim migrants who were escaping Mongols Group conversion was important b/c those who stayed in the Hindu castes would have little to do with those who converted New cultural era in India syncretism in arch, painting, music which laid the groundwork for Mughals 12. What was the social structure of Muslim communities in India? Socially, Hindus did not initiate anything with Muslims; lived separately, no friendships, intermarriage wrong Worked together politically, not socially Muslim communities were divided along caste lines --Recent arrived Muslims = top, but divided depending on if Arab, Turk, or Persian --High-caste Hindu converts -- Clean artisans and merchant groups --Lower-caste and untouchable Muslims adopted Hindu social status of women but different b/t N and S --North India few privileges --South India some rulers, or administer villages, responsible for menial tasks, compulsory marriages 8-10 yrs old --purdah = veil (upper class); sati upper class Hindu 13. How did the collapse of Shriviajaya encourage Muslim converts in Southeast Asia? The leaders were Buddhist, so little incentive for the traders to convert to Islam; Incentives increased for the establishment of Muslim trading centers and efforts to preach the faith to the coastal peoples 14. When a key trade city such as Malacca converted to a certain religion, it was often wise for all cities in the trade cluster to convert. Why? To enhance personal ties and provide a common basis in Muslim law to regulate business deals Linked them culturally and economically to the merchants and ports of India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean Buddhists conversions were only open to the elites 15. Why did Sufi mystics allow Southeast Asian peoples to retain their pre-islamic beliefs and practices? To win converts Characteristics of SE Asia: women retained stronger position (dominated trade, lineage/inheritance traced through female); pre-islamic law remained important in regulating social interaction, whereas Islamic law was confined to specific sorts of agreements and exchanges Define the following vocabulary words: 1. Sultan 2. Seljuk Turks 3. Ulama 4. Mameluks