Download Umayyad Empire - 8th Grade Social Studies Page

Umayyad Empire
How did this Empire grow and
unite many different people?
Power Play
• How did the Umayyads
come to power?
• By the early 600’s Muslims
in the former Eastern
Roman Empire began
organizing and conquering
cities in the region under the
direction of the Caliphs
• During this time, the Islamic
governor of Syria (Muawiya)
began to build up a devoted
army of followers
• By 661 he was able to take
control of the entire Eastern
Empire
Move West Young Men!
• Umayyad Expansion:
North Africa and Spain
• Under the leadership of
Muawiya, the Umayyads
were talented military
strategist
• By 711 they had
expanded the Empire
from the Middle East,
through northern Africa,
and across the straight of
Gibraltar
Taking Spain
• Further Expansion
• They were so determined to
take the Iberian Peninsula
that they burned their boats
after crossing. Retreat was
NOT an option
• After conquering Spain, they
began attacking the Kingdom
of the Franks in an attempt
to spread Islam
• Charles “The Hammer”
Martel (Charlemagne’s
Grandfather) stopped the
Muslims in 732 at the Battle
of Tours
What was the significance of the
Hammer’s victory at Tours?
Peaceful Coexistence
• Treatment of NonMuslims in the
Umayyad Empire
• Over the next few
centuries some
Umayyad rulers
attempted to convert
people to Islam
• Umayyads were
generally tolerant and let
Jews and Christians keep
their religions because
they were considered
“people of the book”
Growth of Christianity and Judaism in
the Umayyad Empire
• Religious Freedom
• Christians in Spain, and Jews
in the Middle East practiced
their religions peacefully
among the Umayyads
• They were allowed to work
in key government positions
and earn wealth in Umayyad
culture simply by paying a
special tax
• There were many different
departments within
government (bureaucracy) to
oversee and organize the tax
collection
Cultural Success
• Common Language
• By the late 600’s the
Umayyads made Arabic the
official language of the
Empire
• Why is this
significant?
– If government, business and
religion are conducted in the
same language, anyone who
wishes to do business or
practice faith in that Empire
must speak the language
More Culture Building
• Common Coinage
• Around 640 the Umayyad
government began minting
coins to be used throughout
the Empire
• They borrowed this idea
from the Byzantines
• Why would this give
the Umayyad Empire
an economic
advantage over
European kingdoms?
End of an Empire
• Downfall of the
Umayyad
• Non-Muslims in the
Empire had to a pay a
tax to practice their
religion
• Unfortunately, over time
many converted to Islam
to avoid the tax
• More conversions meant
less money for the
Umayyad government
Downward Spiral
• Fewer
Conquests/Opposition
• Because of less tax revenue,
the Muslim armies made few
conquests
• As a result, there was less
wealth gained through war
booty
• Groups within the Empire
were concerned that religion
was no longer the focus of
the Umayyads
End of an Empire
• Rebellion
• One group, the
Abbasids, launched a
rebellion against the
Umayyads in 750
• As the rebellion gained
strength, the Abbasids
were able to take control
of all Umayyad
controlled land in the
east and in the west
Quick-Write
• Explain how the Umayyads were able to unite
many lands and people. Do countries use these
same strategies today when invading other
countries? Provide examples in your answer.