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Islamic Civilization. Answer the following question in a paragraph. Choose two “pillars” of Islam and explain their possible social, political, or religious purpose. Islam as a global system. Spread of Islam into diverse areas of the world meant syncretism and unity
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Answer the following question in a paragraph Choose two “pillars” of Islam and explain their possible social, political, or religious purpose.
Islam as a global system • Spread of Islam into diverse areas of the world meant syncretism and unity • No central religious authority (unlike Christianity) meant diverse interpretations • Understanding of Islam developed through scholarship • The Hadith • The Ulama
Non-Arabs and Islam • Non-Arabic readers had to guess at what being a Muslim was • Imitation of Muslims garrisoned in key cities was common • Rise of ulama and madrasas to help • Urban nature of Muslim culture
Islam and Urbanization • Aspiring Muslims moved to cities • Easy to convert, but harder to understand Arab culture • Staying behind in village meant discrimination • Rise of major cities in dar al-Islam due to this process • Role of cities in new global culture
Conversion factors • SLOW: • Existing monotheistic faith • Persistent political power • Hinterlands/rural areas
Conversion factors • Fast • Urban areas • Trade zones • Entrepots • Areas with weak political power (e.g. the Sassanid and Byzantine empires) • Polytheistic or animistic areas
Attempts to “Re-Center” • Multiple “Islams” due to lack of central religious authority • Political decentralization during Abbasid Caliphate • Migration of scholars to urban centers helped counteract & unify • Rise of Madrasas • Sufi brotherhoods • Increased importance of the Hajj • Increased importance of Mecca as center
Impact of Muslim culture • Rise of more urban areas • Increased flow of trade: Islam as business law in IO network • Increased literacy through Madrasas • Architecture: mosques • Changing status of women
Status of Women during Abbasid Caliphate • Urban vs. Rural women led different lives: rural worked in fields, urban secluded • Women lacked public roles • Only allowed to study secretly • Paradox: Slave women freer in some ways • Men had much more sexual freedom
Status of women • Right to retain property in marriage • Right to remarry if divorced • Right to settlement if divorced • Right to initiate divorce in some situations • Right to use birth control • Right to testify in court (although only worth 50% as men) • Right to make the Hajj WHY ARE THESE IMPORTANT RIGHTS?
Gynophobia • Men afraid of women: • Infidelity: important to be sure offspring are own, not some other man’s • Meddling in politics: fear of real power for women • Fear of women’s sexuality: veiling and seclusion to remove source of temptation AND separate worship (sex-segregated mosques)
Slavery • Not allowed for “people of the book” unless POW • Not hereditary • Converting often meant freedom • Most slaves women
Architecture • inspired by Muhammad’s first house • Generally have: • Minaret • Arabesque features, e.g. arches
The Arts • Images forbidden • Geometric patterns as art • Script as art • Persian culture blended, became special sub-set
The Sciences • Exceptional intellectual culture developed in urban centers • Preserved work of Greeks and other Hellenistic peoples • Adopted elements of Indian thought: • Decimals • Numerals • Inoculation • The concept of Zero CONTRIBUTED UNIQUELY – esp. areas like Baghdad
Beni-Isquen Algerian Mosque
DjinguereBer Mosque Timbuktu
Kutubiyya Mosque Morocco
