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Chapter 7 The World of Islam Bedouin Arabs Islam sprang from the Bedouin Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula at the beginning of the 7th Century AD. Semitic people dating to at least the 5th Century BC. What was Bedouin society like? Basic social unit? What drove the economy of the early Arabian population? Pre-Islamic Bedouin Arabs Sheikh: Responsibilities? Who chose the sheikhs? Each tribe was autonomous but had a sense of allegiance to larger clan. Prior to Islam, what did Bedouin religion look like? Ka’aba Each tribe had a sacred stone that symbolized the supreme God Significance of the Ka’aba in Mecca? Arab Trade Why did a new trade route down the Red Sea through Mecca and to the Indian Ocean become more popular in the 400500s AD? This significantly increased the importance of the Arabian Peninsula. Consequences? What groups will experience tension as a result of the new wealth? Muhammad Islam founded by Muhammad in the midst of this change to the region. Born in Mecca (570) to a merchant family, married a rich widow and became a merchant himself. What troubled Muhammad? Disparity between the traditional Arab values of honesty and generosity and the avarice and greed of the rich commercial elites in the city. What happens to Muhammad as he meditates? Koran How is Muhammad’s Allah related to Jewish and Christian beliefs? What is significant about Muhammad’s revelations? The revelations received by Muhammad were dictated by him and transcribed into what became the Koran, the holy scripture of Islam. Mecca Muhammad set out to comply with the command he received to preach the newest word of God, starting with his hometown of Mecca. Results for Muhammad? 622 Muhammad and some of his disciples went north to the rival city of Yathrib (modern Medina). Why there? The date of this flight, known as the Hegira marks the first date of the official calendar of Islam. Spread of Islam In Medina Muhammad attracted more followers Whom does he succeed in converting? Muhammad converted his followers into a military force, conquered Mecca, and converted the townspeople to the new faith. How does Muhammad destroy the pre-Islamic religion? Two years later, Muhammad dies, just as faith beginning to take off. The Teachings Of Muhammad Similarities to Judaism and Christianity Is monotheistic God is all-powerful and all-knowing Promises salvation in a heaven-like afterlife Based on teaching of prophet who received teachings directly from God. “People of the Book.” Differences Muhammad not divine. Rather, a man who received revelations. Single holy text rather than many Teachings of Muhammad Basic ethical code of Islam is based on five pillars: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Shahadah: belief in Allah and Muhammad as his Prophet Salah: standard prayer five times a day and public prayer on Friday at midday Sawm: Observation of fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan. Hajj: making a pilgrimage to Mecca in one’s lifetime Zakat: Giving alms to the poor and unfortunate. Those who followed laws guaranteed a place in eternal paradise Additional Teachings had a number of “laws” drawn up after the death of Muhammad that regulated the lives of Muslims: Hadith Forbidden to: Islam gamble, eat pork, drink alcohol, and engage in dishonest behavior. Sexual behavior? The Arab Empire Muhammad had not named a successor and did not have a male heir. Consequences? What factions fight over who will be the first Caliph (successor)? Succeeded in suppressing factionalism and began to spread Islam. Instituted Jihad — religious raids. Holy wars. “Striving in the way of the lord” Once Arabs unified, early Muslims direct the Jihad against neighboring countries. Spread of Islam Byzantine and Persian Empires In the early and mid 600s, the Arabs take Syria from Byzantine Empire, 650: Muslims take the entire Persian Sassanid Empire. Why were they able to beat these powers? Arab Rule The conquered areas tended to submit relatively peacefully to Arab rule once the fighting was over. Why? Muslims tolerant of other monotheistic religions. Conversion was not mandatory but incentives did exist. Many conquered people did convert to Islam. Why? Rise of the Umayyads Internal strife over the leadership. How did Muhammad Ali become Caliph? Assassinated in 661. What did Caliph Mu’awiyah do that split Islam? The Umayyads. Capital moved to Damascus (Syria). Umayyads retain power for nearly a century. Umayyad Expansion Beginning of the 7th Century the Umayyads continue expansion of Arab empire both east and west. Move into North-central Africa and conquer the pastoral Berbers living there. 710 Tariq attacks across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. Visigoths collapsed quickly. By 725 most of Iberian Peninsula a Muslim state. Umayyad Expansion Arabs then try to move across the Pyrenees; defeated by Franks under Charles Martel at the battle of Tours. Significance? Attack the Byzantine Empire in 717 but are defeated outside of Constantinople Greek Fire. Significance? Fall of Umayyads Factional What racial tension exists? In present-day Iraq Shi’ites challenged the legitimacy of the Sunni Umayyads. 750 disputes Abu al-Abbas led revolt. Causes? Umayyads overthrown and replaced by the Abbasid dynasty, which ruled for 500 years Based in present-day Iraq. The Abbasids The Abbasids brought dramatic political, economic and cultural changes to the Arab empire. Stressed religious orthodoxy. Ended distinction between Arab and non-Arab Muslims. 762--Moved capital to new capital city in Baghdad, far to the east of the Umayyad capital. Move increased Persian influence on Islam. Under Abbasids who are seen as ideal citizens? Arab cultural influence is being diluted. Golden Age The 800s were a Golden Age. Baghdad became a cultural and economic center What trade routes do the Abbasids control? Set up astronomical observatories Became a cultural center. • Hellenistic literature preserved and translated here • Culture/technology from east to west. Disintegration of Abbasids Under the Abbasids the caliphs became more regal and kinglike and less focused on spiritual matters. Autocratic Complex and ingrained bureaucracy. Succession to the Caliphate disputed Financial corruption and decadence undermined Islamic teachings. • Sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, public drinking, etc. • Caliphs maintained huge harems. Disintegration of Abbasids Because of a shortage of Arabs, the caliphate began to recruit non-Arabs such as Turks and Persians. Provincial rulers break away Spain under an Umayyad prince (750) Morocco Egypt under a Shi’ite dynasty (Fatimids) in 973 The Seljuk Turks Where do the “Turks” come from? Converted to Islam and became military mercenaries for the Abbasid Caliphate. “Mounted” archers. In the 11th Century became a threat to Abbasids Grew in strength and number and moved further west into Iran and Armenia as Abbasids weakened. Will the Real Caliph Please Stand Up? Seljuk Expansion 1055: Turkish leader captured Bahgdad and took the title “Sultan”. Caliph remained head of the religion. Why? 1071: Battle of Manzikert. Turks beat a Byzantine force in E. Turkey and took most of the Anatolian peninsula. Byzantine Empire forced to look to west for help. Sets the stage for Crusades Turkish Control Turkish control of Islamic empire was a mixed blessing. Did revitalize religion. How? Abbasids: Turks seen as barbarians who destroyed civilization. Military strength tied areas more closely together under their new power Ended squabbles between Sunnis and Shi’ites. Revitalized Islamic law and institutions and stabilized the empire. But also made it harder to spread Islam. Why? Narrow view of the Koran. Islam becomes less attractive. Harder to convert others Less response to social changes within society. Manzikert’s Legacy The Crusades Strength of the Seljuk Turks frighten Christian Europe Byzantine Emperor Alexius I desperately needed military assistance. Because of recent (1051) schism between Orthodox Church and Roman church, Europeans were not inclined to be allies. Alexius’ solution? Pope’s motivation? Crusades Crusades begin in 1096 and continue off and on for 200 years. Some early success in capturing territory around Palestine under Christian rule, but only temporary. At first, Muslim rulers taken off guard by mounted knights, Saladin 1169 Saladin overthrows the Fatimids in Egypt and took control of Egypt Why is Saladin effective? What success does he have? What sort of religious freedom is permitted? The Mongols Destruction of the Arab empire was caused by Mongols Swept out of Central Asia in the early thirteenth century and seized control over China and much of the rest of the known world. Genghis Khan Genghis Khan took the Mongols from a nomadic people to the dominant military power in the world in a very short time. 1258 successors advanced Mongol control as far as Persia and Mesopotamia, bringing an end to the Caliphate at Baghdad. Why were Mongols destructive to the economy? Mamelukes Mongols advanced as far as the Red Sea, but failed in attempt to take Egypt because of stiff resistance by Mamelukes. Why did Mongol empire began to break apart? Cities were rebuilt and Persian influence became predominant at court. Effect on Arab Empire? Cairo new center of Islamic civilization where Mamelukes were in control. The Wealth of Araby The 400 years after the rise of Islam was one of the most prosperous periods in the Middle East. Trade was both by ship and by desert Caravan of camels. China: Silk and porcelain East Africa: Gold, Ivory and Rhinoceros horn Sahara: Gold and Slaves Southeast Asia: Sandalwood, cotton, wheat, sugar and spices Exchange of goods was facilitated by advances in banking and money—letters of credit and paper money. Effect on demographics? Islamic Society Egalitarian – Why? To what extent? Effect of Trade? Distinct upper class ruling families, government officials, tribal leaders and wealthiest merchants. Where did these “nobles” come from? Effect on perceptions? Average person and majority of people were still rural and depended on herding or agriculture. At first, small independent farmers. Gradually, concentration of land in large landowners. Islamic Society Slavery from Africa and non-Islamic populations in Asia Women were largely treated as second-class citizens. Could own property, but considered inferior in fact and in the law. Islamic custom required that women be cloistered in their homes Prohibited from contacts with males outside their own family. Required to cover virtually all parts of their bodies. Strictest Muslims believed that women should be seen in public only at their wedding, the death of their husband and their own death. Philosophy and Science Islam attitude to other cultures? Translated and stored in “House of Wisdom” in Baghdad. Also brought texts from India. Islamic society became a clearinghouse for wisdom from many different cultures, where it was distilled, preserved and added to. Imported technology for making paper from China and set up paper factories in Baghdad at the end of the 8th century. Islamic scholars made advances of their own especially in mathematics and natural science. Adopted and passed on the number system of India Created algebra