150 likes | 331 Views
Major Islamic Empires. Ms. Catsos World History. Where was each picture taken?. All three were taken in Baghdad, Iraq- the former capital of the Abbasid Empire. Objective.
E N D
Major Islamic Empires Ms. Catsos World History
Where was each picture taken? All three were taken in Baghdad, Iraq- the former capital of the Abbasid Empire
Objective • Understand the rise and the fall of the Umayyad and Abbasid Empires, the two major empires of the medieval Islamic world. • Know how these two empires spread Islam and the lasting effects of that spread today
Essential Question • How do empires rise and fall?
The Umayyad Empire 661- 750 • After the death of Ali, the Umayyad family set up a dynasty. They were Sunnis. • Their capital was Damascus, in Syria. • They spread Islam across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Why were the Umayyads so successful in spreading Islam? • Byzantine and Persian Empires were weak • Fighting methods: camel and horse cavalry • Common faith inspired army • Fair treatment of conquered people
The Umayyad Empire- Challenges • Had to adapt from desert life to ruling large cities and huge territories • Arabs had more rights than non-Arabs • Shiites still angry about murder of Ali • When conquests stopped, money stopped coming in, and people turned to a new leader
Abbasid Empire (750-1258) • The new leader was Abu al-Abbas, who captured Damascus in 750. • He invited the Umayyads to a banquet, then killed them all. • The Abbas family became Shiites to gain their support. • The Abbasids ended Arab dominance and made Islam a universal religion.
New Capital: Baghdad • Moved the capital to Baghdad (today in Iraq) • Strong Persian influence • Huge center of trade and culture • Leader during Baghdad’s peak: Harun al-Rashid
Decline of the Abbasid Empire • Starting in 850, Abbasid control fragmented • Spain, Egypt and other areas were ruled by separate states • Civil Wars • Invasions: Seljuks, Crusaders, and Mongols How was its decline similar to the decline of Ancient Rome?
Seljuk Turks • From Central Asia • Adopted Islam • Ruled by a sultan • Took over Baghdad • Threatened Byzantines and motivated Urban II to call the first Crusade
Crusaders • In 1099 captured Jerusalem • It went back in forth for hundreds of years in bloody battle • Crusades had more of a cultural impact in Europe than in the Middle East • The Crusaders did not take Muslim land permanently, but created centuries of hostility
Continuing Influence • After the caliphates fell, the Middle East became very politically divided- and still is today • Islam still linked these diverse people as a common religion • What other effects can you think of?