Download Topic #8 The Muslim World and Africa

Monday 1-23-2017
• What was Zoroastrianism?
• Why is Jerusalem considered to be a holy
city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims?
• What battle saw the expansion of Islam
halted in Western Europe?
• What event saw the Iberian Peninsula return
to be predominately Catholic in religion?
Topic #8: Islam &
Empires in Africa
The Life of
Muhammad
Early Life
• Born in Mecca in 570 A.D. to
a merchant family
• Was an orphan, but grew up to
become a caravan manager
• At age 25, married a rich widow
named Khadija (age 40).
• He worried about the greed of
wealthy people & he spent time
praying & reflecting alone
where he experienced a
revelation, or vision from God
Early Life
• This voice told Muhammad that he was
Allah’s (God’s) prophet & it was
Muhammad’s duty to warn the people about
divine judgment
• In 613 AD, Muhammad began spreading
this new religion called Islam (surrendering
to God) and its followers were called
Muslims (surrendering ones
Isra and Mi'raj
• Journey that Muhammad took
during a single night around the
year 621.
• It has been described as both a
physical and spiritual journey.
• In the journey, Muhammad travels
on the steed Buraq to "the
farthest mosque" where he leads
other prophets in prayer.
• He then ascended to heaven
where he spoke to God, who
gave Muhammad instructions to
take back to the faithful
regarding the details of prayer.
Early Spread of Islam
• Tried to convince the people of what he
had learned from the revelations.
• Upset many people, particularly the
wealthy merchants, because he said the
rich should share their wealth with the
poor.
• They forced Muhammad and his 30
followers out of Mecca on the hijrah or
emigration in 622 & went to Medina (called
the city of the prophet); this year is known
as year 0. in the Muslim calendar
• He gains much more support in Medina
and among the Bedouin tribes (Arab
nomads).
• The first Muslim community (Umma)is
formed here.
Conquering of Mecca
• In 630 Muhammad and a force of 10,000
men return to conquer Mecca.
• He declares the Ka’bah a holy shrine.
• He removes the tribal idols, but keeps the
Black Stone.
• Muhammad becomes the religious and
political leader .
1-24-2017
• Describe how the spread and growth of
Islam was different than the spread of
Christianity.
• Name at least 3 major Islamic holy cities.
• How is the Quran a different religious text
than the Bible?
Muslim Beliefs
• The Quran (“Recite”),
written in Arabic, was
believed to be Allah’s
message as revealed to
Muhammad
– presented basic moral
values & rules to guide
Muslims in everyday life
• Muslims can pray at home or
at a mosque, a building that
may be a place of worship,
school, court, or shelter
• Prayers chanted five times a
day from the minaret
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam are the
essential duties that all Muslims are to
fulfill
• Shahada: Declaration of faith or
belief in Allah
• Salat: prayer 5 times a day facing
Mecca
• Zakat: charity giving to the sick &
poor
• Sawm: fasting during daylight
hours during Ramadan, the holiest
month in the Muslim calendar
• Hajj: a pilgrimage to Mecca at
least once in a Muslims’ life
The Fifth Pillar: Hajj
• The Pilgrimage
includes praying
to the Kaaba or
holy shine in
Mecca
• Each year
millions of
Muslims make
the Pilgramge
Women In Islam
• Early days of Islam: women were
not required to wear the veil & not
secluded
• Up to four wives allowed since the
time of Muhammad; women - only
one husband
• In general, Islamic women had
more rights than other women of
the same time
•
•
•
•
Equal with men before Allah
Female infanticide forbidden
Could own property (before & after marriage)
In some cases could divorce husband
• Eventual isolation created barriers
to acceptance of Islam, especially
in Africa
People of the Book
• Muslims, Jews and Christians
all worship the same God
• Quran teaches that Islam is
God’s final and complete
revelation
• Muslims consider Jews and
Christians to be “People of
the book”
• Historically these people
enjoyed tolerance in Muslim
Lands
Building a Muslim Empire
Last Great Pilgrimage
• Muhammad spent the
10th year Islam on a
pilgrimage though out
his lands re affirming
the Islamic faith
• Died June 8 632 at
the age of 62 or 63
and was buried in his
wife's house where he
died
• This spot was
later turned into a
Mosque
Succeeding Muhammad
• The death of
Muhammad
created problems
within the Muslin
committee
• Muhammad did
not announce an
heir to the religion
Spread of Islam
• Muhammad dies in 632
A.D.
• Left no clear successor or
heir
• The position of Caliph is
established
• 1st four are called “the
Rightly Guided Caliphs”
• Abu Bakr (1st Caliph) –
father-in law of
Muhammad
• Sought to protect and
spread Islam (Persia &
Byzantine Empire were
weak)
Divisions Within Islam
• Rival groups begin competing
for the Caliphate
• The 4th Caliph (Ali) was
assassinated
• Ali’s rival (Mu’awiyah) begins
the Umayyad dynasty as the
new caliph
• Capital is moved from Medina
to Damascus
• Ali’s son (Husayn) refuses to
accept, but dies in battle
• Led to a split in Islam – Sunnis,
who supported Mu’awiyah and Shiites, who supported Ali
& Husayn
Sunnis & Shiites
• Sunnis
• Believed the caliph was
primarily a leader and any
devout Muslim could
serve in the office with
the acceptance of the
people
• 90% of Muslims today
are Sunnis
• Shiites
• Believed the caliph was
primarily a religious
authority and should be
held only by the
descendants of
Muhammad
• 10% of Muslims today
are Shiites (most are in
Iran, Iraq, & Lebanon)
Expansion of Islam
• Sufis- emerge
in Both Sunni
and Shiite
traditions
• Mystics
seeking
communion with
Allah
Wednesday 1-25-2017
• Describe the events that led up to the split
between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
• Describe at least 2 key differences between
the two groups.
Umayyad Caliphs
• Created an Empire
that stretched from
Arabia into north
Africa and India
• 5th Largest
Empire in
History
Solidifying the Muslim
World
• Were able to
conquer the
Byzantine and
Sassanid Empire
easily because
they wore them
selves out fighting
each other
• Expanded later to
Jerusalem,
Alexandria and
Damascus
• Sunni Caliphs
moved the capital
to Damascus,
Syria
Conquests
• Pushed east to borders of India & China
• Pushed west into Africa and Europe – trade routes
The Fall of the Umayyad
Caliphs
• Abbasid family
unseated the
Caliphs in 750
• Although the
Umayyad fell Islam
had firmly been
established
Abbasid Empire
• Many non
Arab Muslims
were viewed as
2nd class
Citizens
• Abbasid
encouraged
conversion and
equality among
ALL Muslims
Muslim Accomplishments
• Developed the concept of “0” &
algebra
• accurately described solar eclipses
• Very advanced in medicine: Ibn
Sina wrote a book Canon of
Medicine which detailed all medical
knowledge of the time
• began the use of calligraphy, the art
of elegant handwriting
• one of the most famous short story
collections, One Thousand and
One Arabian Nights
• the Dome of the Rock, the famous
mosque in Jerusalem from where
Muhammad ascended to heaven
The Ottoman Empire
• Ottomans gain ground in Asia
Minor (Anatolia) throughout the
1350’s
• 1453: Ottoman capture of
Constantinople under the Ottoman
sultan Mehmed II
• Ottomans were a major power in
the Arab World, the Balkans, and
around the Black and Red Seas.
The Ottoman Empire
• Turkic Cavalry quickly turns into a warrior
aristocracy
• Janissaries: infantry divisions which
dominated the imperial armies
– Usually conscripted as adolescents
– Controlled the artillery and firearms
– Gained tremendous power as time went on
The Ottoman Empire
• Sultans were absolute monarchs
• Ottoman conquest usually meant effective
administration and tax relief
• The grand vizier (wazir) was the true head
of “state.”
• Political succession was vague and often
contested however
– Sons often battled after the death of their father
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire
• Ottoman sultans worked tirelessly to improve the
imperial capital of Constantinople (Istanbul)
• Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque
• Built the Suleymaniye mosque (below)
The Ottoman Empire
• Was the Ottoman Empire plagued to decline?
• The empire did last into the 20th century, and
lasted for over 600 years!
• However, later sultans were less prepared to rule
– Increasing power to the viziers, and Janissary corps.
– Ottoman defeat at the battle of Lepanto against the
combined Spanish and Venetian fleet in 1571
– Ottomans were unable to push the Portuguese from the
Indian Ocean in the 1500s
• Ottoman tax collectors lose critical revenue
The Ottoman Empire
• Influx of silver bullion in the 16th century from the New
World also destabilized the Ottoman economy
• Ottomans did not overly concern themselves with
developments in Europe, like Scientific Revolutions,
enlightenment, and industrial advancements of the 171800’s.
• Ottomans fell behind in trade and warfare more than
anything
• Janissaries block most modes of change in defense of
their own power.
The Safavids
• Sunnis: recognized the legitimacy of the first three
successors to Muhammad (abu Bakr, Umar, and
Uthman)
• Shi’a: recognized only the fourth caliph
(Ali…Mohammad’s cousin and son-in-law)
– Ottomans: Sunni
– Safavids: Shi’a
• This rivalry has gone on since the 7th century, and
continues today!
The Safavids
• Sail al-Din (Saladin): with the
Mongol collapse of the 14th
Century, he began a militant
campaign to purify and reform
Islam and spread teachings
amongst Turkic tribes
The Safavids
• Variants in Islam led the Safavids to battle with the
Ottomans by 1514.
• The Safavids were NOT as militarily technologically
advanced as the Ottomans.
• The Safavids were sorely defeated at the Battle of
Chaldiran.
• Isma’il was largely ineffective after this defeat.
– Ottomans could not take Tabriz (capital) because of distance
from supply lines
– Shi’aism would be confined to this area (modern day
Iran/southern Iraq)
The Safavids
• Abbas I (r. 1587-1629), aka
Abbas the Great
– Empire reaches the height of its
strength and prosperity
– Used “slave” regiments that mirrored
the Janissaries
– Built the army to 40,000
– Moved capital to Isfahan
– Founded several colleges
– Supported the arts, architecture, etc.
The Safavids
• Shahs claim to be descended from imams, or
successors of Ali
• Mullahs are local and mosque officials who were
prayer leaders
• Shia’ism becomes an integral part of Iranian
identity
– Pressuring conversions of other faiths
• Women faced legal and social disadvantages
The Safavids
• After Abbas the Great (I), the decline of the
empire was rapid.
• Weak shahs which were supported by the “slave”
regiment were often the culprit
– (although Abbas II from 1642-1666 was rather
effective)
• By 1722 Isfahan was besieged by Afghani tribes
• Area becomes battleground for surrounding
empires, and nomadic raiders for years
African Civilizations
Geography & Environment
• Is divided into 5
regions – N. Africa, E.
Africa, W. Africa,
Southern. Africa, &
Central Africa
• Three times as large as
the U.S.
• The Sahel is a great
central plateau south
of the Sahara desert
African Regions
African Societies in General (before
Islam)
• Diverse – centralized
states & stateless societies
• Animistic religions –
nature, rituals, dancing,
witchcraft, creator deity,
ancestor worship,
sacrifice, drumming
• Languages had common
origin (Bantu)
Bantu Migrations
• Bantu- nomadic farmers from central Africa
• Utilized the slash and burn methods of agriculture
• Shared skills (farming, ironworking, etc.) and spread
culture throughout Southern Africa.
• Reason for migration is unknown.
Pre-Islamic Africa
• Extremely diverse societies developed
• Political unity was difficult because of terrain
• Bantu is primary language spoken
– Oral traditions; very few written records
– Most communities are preliterate (lacking
writing system)
• Animistic and polytheistic religions common
• Majority of Africa, even after introduction of
Islam, will remain in isolation
– Many who are exposed to Islam do not convert
but remain practitioners of their indigenous
religion
“Stateless” Societies
• Many small communities are politically organized in this way
– Authoritarian and centralized empires will exist,
however.
• Lack concentration of power and authority
– Authority and power normally exercised by a ruler and court
is held by a council or families or community
• Weakness of stateless societies
– No organization to collect taxes  no effective militaries
– No consensus  Difficult to resist external pressures
– No undertaking of large building projects
– Hard to create stability for long-distance trade
• Internal problems could be resolved by allowing dissidents to
leave and establish new villages
African Economy
• Economies vary by region
– N. Africa integrated into the world
economy via Islamic trade routes and
Mediterranean
– Most participate in agriculture and
ironworking
• Africans exchanged abundant raw materials
for manufactured goods.
Grasslands Kingdoms
• Sahel Grasslands: transition zone between Sahara Desert and
savannahs to the south
• Point of exchange between North and Sub-Saharan Africa;
important region of trade
• Grasslands Kingdoms = Sudanic States = Ghana, Mali,
Songhai
Sudanic States
• Islam reinforced ideas of kingship and power: “royal cult”
– Joining Islam gives rulers prestige and associates
them with other great Muslim leaders
• Majority of population never converted but retain their
polytheism/animism
• Trade gold for salt from Berbers in North Africa
• Mali, Ghana and Songhai
– Combine Islamic religion/culture with local practices
– Each incorporates the previous kingdom; bigger than last
Islam in Africa
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Jihad spread Islam to Africa
(8th century)
Caravan trade helped spread
Islam into Sub-Saharan Africa
(Ghana, Mali, & Sudan)
Traditional beliefs blend with
Muslim beliefs in some areas
Ocean traders spread Islam to
coastal areas, islands, & east
African cities (Mogadishu,
Mombasa, & Kilwa) Persian,
Arab and Bantu languages
create Swahili.
Little success in interior Africa
Islam in Africa
• Ibn Battuta – Arab traveler
who documented the Islamic
world (1300s)
• Mamluks – originally a
military caste that took seized
power; dynasty that makes
Egypt a center for Muslim
culture and learning; were
converts to Islam
• Muslims bring slavery to new
heights – saw slavery as a
process in conversion
Kingdom of Ghana
(A.D. 300 – A.D. 1200)
• Caravan trading empire that
prospered from taxes
• Benefited from salt and gold
trade( tax these items as they came
through their territory)
• Trade brought Islamic ideas
and customs; many
converted
Ghana
4th – 11th c.
• 1st great West African
empire
• Rose to power by
taxing salt and gold
• 10th c: rulers convert to
Islam while common
people remain loyal to
polytheism
• Reaches 11th c. height
• Almoravid armies
invaded Ghana in 1076
Kingdom of Mali (1235 C.E.-1468 C.E.)
• West African Kingdom established
by Sundieta Keita (Lion Prince) in
1235
• Rulers supported Islam (mosques,
public prayers, preachers)
• Juula – traders
• Ibn Battuta visits (Arab traveler)
• Greatest king was Mansa Musa
(Muslim) – made Hajj
• Important trading center and capital
was Timbuktu
Mali
• Broke away from Ghana in 13th c.
• Economy: agriculture and gold trade
• Traders spread beyond W Africa
• Very wealthy empire
• Islamized state in 13th c. when rulers convert
• Founder: Sundiata (dies 1260)
– Credited with Malinke expansion and
creation of unified state with each tribe
having a representative at court
– Mansa Musa is successor
• Jenne and Timbuktu
– Major cities of commercial exchange
– Scholars, craft specialists, and foreign
merchants
– Timbuktu was famous for its library and
university
Mansa Musa
• 1324: Hajj to Mecca
– Aligns himself with elite
Islamic rulers
– Brings back scholars,
architects
– Inadvertently devastates
economies he enters
• Indicates wealthy,
sophisticated empires
existed in Africa
• Estimated wealth: $400
billion
Kingdom of Songhai
(A.D. 1493 – A.D. 1528 was its height)
• Most important ruler was
Askia Muhammad (Muslim)
• Sunni Ali – ruthless, tactical
commander
• Were traders, farmers, &
fishers who settled in the
Niger River Valley
• Timbuktu became a center
of Muslim learning
• Moroccan Army causes
downfall
Songhai
• Independent from Mali in 1370s
• Prospered as a trading state and military power.
• Founded by Sunni Ali (1464-1492)
– Great military leader; extended rule over the entire
Niger River valley.
• Songhai remained dominant until defeated by
Moroccans in 1591 for not being “Muslim enough”
Influence of Islam
in Grasslands Kingdoms
• Islam provided universal faith and fixed law.
• Rulers reinforced authority through Muslim
ideology.
• Many Sudanic societies were matrilineal and did
not seclude women.
– Hesitancy over conversion to Islam since it
restricts women more than these societies did
• Slavery and slave trade was prevalent from
Muslim influence
Swahili Coast of East Africa
• Coasts enable East Africa to be connected to India Ocean
trade
• Islamized trading ports along coast by 13th c.
– Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombasa: large city-state centers of
Islam
– Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar/writer who visits these cities
• Exported raw materials in return for Indian, Islamic and
Chinese luxuries
• Swahili language (Bantu + Arabic) emerged in urbanized
trading ports
• Rulers and merchants were often Muslim.
– Most of the population retained African beliefs and few
converted to Islam
• Culture = Swahili as language and fused African and Islamic
practices.
Central Africa
• Across central Africa, agrarian
societies thrived and kingdoms
developed
• Yoruba
– Non Bantu-speaking
– Highly urbanized
agriculturalists
• Benin
– Forms in 14th century under
ruler/oba Ewuare the Great
– Ruled from the Niger River
to the coast near Lagos
• Luba
– Divine kingship
– Hereditary bureaucracy
Central Africa without Islam
• Both develop free of Islamic
contact
• Kongo
– Agricultural society, flourishes
by 15th
– Gender division of labor and
family-based villages
– Largest site: Mbanza Kongo =
60,000-100,000 people
• Zimbabwe
– Great Zimbabwe, largest site
– Dominated gold sources and
trade with coastal ports
Christianity in Africa
• Christian states are present in
North Africa, Egypt, and
Ethiopia before the arrival of
Islam.
• Egyptian Christians, the Copts,
had a rich and independent
tradition (Coptic Christianity).
• The Nubians resisted Muslim
incursions from 9th until 13th
century.
• Ethiopia continues to retain
Christianity.
• Christianity will come later to
the rest of the continent with the
presence of Europeans.
Global Connections
• Spread of Islam brought large areas of Africa into
the global community through increasing contact
from 700-1500 CE between Africa and
Mediterranean and Asian civilizations.
– Sudanic states and East Africa
• However, most of Africa evolved in regions free of
Islamic contact (Central + Southern Africa).
– Organized their lives in stateless societies.
• While no universal empires and religions develop in
Africa, Christianity and Islam impact the region
through political, economic, and cultural
development.