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Chapter 7. Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia. Islamic Heartlands. Court conditions: Shi’i revolts, assassinations Luxuries Wives, concubines, courtiers Succession??? Harun al-Rashid Thousand and One Arabian Nights
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Chapter 7 Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia
Islamic Heartlands • Court conditions: • Shi’i revolts, assassinations • Luxuries • Wives, concubines, courtiers • Succession??? • Harun al-Rashid • Thousand and One Arabian Nights • Dependent on advisors (Persian) • Death→civil wars, need for personal armies • Slave mercenary armies (caused more problems)
Internal problems • Constant civil violence (costs $$) • Peasants heavily taxed • Villages destroyed/abandoned • Shi’i also caused problems
Women • Harem and veil • Concubines/slaves • Slaves from surrounding regions • Prized for beauty and intelligence • Very educated • Leaders spend more time with them • Slave and lower-class women – usually had more freedom • Upper-class had “behind the scenes” power
Nomadic problems • Buyids (Persian Shi’i) • Invaded and captured Baghdad • Caliphs were “puppet rulers” • “sultans” • Seljuk Turks (Sunnis) • Purged Shi’i influence • Good military • Opens way for Ottomans later • Mongols later end the Abbasids
Impact of Crusades • Seljuks not unified, surprised so 1st Crusade was Christian success • Eventually Muslims unite under Saladin, reconquer area • Little impact on Muslims • Much impact on Christians • Technology, weapons, science, medicine, regained Greek learning, textiles • Exchange was mostly one-way
Culture • Expansion of trade and professional classes • Urban prosperity (artisans) • Literature-Persian • Science-math, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, maps (practical things) • Religious trends: orthodox/Sufis
Islam in South Asia • Carried by invaders/traders/Sufis/etc • Earlier migrants to India had been absorbed into culture-Muslims didn’t • Muslim civ. = Indian civ. • Much interaction, both peaceful and violent • Harsha (north India) • Forged alliances, united central and east • Period of peace and prosperity • Dies without successor
Muslim invasions • Political divisions result • First wave (711) • Muslim traders vs. pirates • Muhammad ibn Qasim- Umayyad • Little change for people – most did not convert (no reason to) • Exchange of info (esp. science/math)
Second wave • Turkish slave dynasty (Mahmud of Ghazni)- 200 yrs. raiding in N. India • Muhammad of Ghur-capital at Delhi • Controlled Indus valley and N. India • Next 300 yrs-succession of Muslim dynasties reign (sultans of Delhi) • Based on military machines
Patterns of conversion/accommodation • Most conversions-peaceful • Merchants/traders!!!!!! • Sufi mystics • Most from lower castes • Buddhism declines • Hindus took gov’t positions • Muslims adopted some Hindu ideas • “bad” for women
Hindu revival • Response to Muslims • More emphasis on devotional cults(bhakti) • Open to all (women/untouchables) • Stressed strong emotional bond to gods • Proves adaptability
Results • Brahmans vs. ulama • Large Muslim community on Indian subcontinent • Hindus still majority • Hindus still thought Muslims would be absorbed (NOT!)
SE Asia • Carried by traders/Sufi mystics • Shrivijaya collapses, opening for Muslims • Peaceful and voluntary conversions • Trade was key • Malacca • Conversion helped business • Sufis adapted Islam to fit areas • Women stronger position
In Depth • World religions –broad and flexible • Islam-peaceful converts, adopted, flexible • Accommodated diverse aspects