Battling for Islam – Umayyad Power: February 3

1. Battling for Islam – Umayyad Power: February 3

2. The Umayyad Caliphate Prophet Muhammad, 622–632Rashidun Caliphate, 632–661 Umayyad Caliphate, 661–750

3. The Umayyad Caliphate

4. The Umayyad Caliphate The Umayyad Dynasty: had really begun with Uthman as Caliph, Mu’awiya as military commander ‘officially’ seen as beginning with Mu’awiya 661 and his designated heir, Yazid 680 short lived: Yazid died 683 his son in turn died four months later Mu’awiya’s ‘family line’ ended

5. The Umayyad Caliphate Challenges 680-683: [video] opposition to Yazid marked beginning of dozen years civil war Medina: sons of key figures in first civil war among those amassing followings

6. The Umayyad Caliphate Who were they? Abdallah (son of Az-Zubayr who had challenged Ali for power) Hussein (son of former Caliph, Ali) both refused to give ‘baya’ – oath of allegiance to Yazid

7. The Umayyad Caliphate The Massacre: Hussein: took army to Kufa (Iraq): set up capital soon challenged by Yazid Karbala: Yazid’s forces trapped Hussein -killed him and most of family momentary ‘block’ on Alid family shia [sect] but NOT the end Karbala still commemorated by shiites [see ‘Islam Divided’ video and lecture Feb. 6 for discussion]

8. The Umayyad Caliphate Abdallah: ‘the one who seeks sanctuary’ went to Mecca: ‘saved’ from Yazid’s forces by Caliph’s early death 683: proclaimed himself Caliph

9. The Umayyad Caliphate Damascas: Mu’awiya, son of Yazid elected Caliph died few weeks later [at this point Hoyland’s account begins]

10. The Umayyad Caliphate “Power Vacuum”: two main contenders Abdallah – remained in Mecca underlined commitment to Prophet on coinage recognized in some Eastern provinces: “commander of the faithful” (coins) but Mecca ‘far away’

11. The Umayyad Caliphate Second contender: Marawan ibn al-Haim, Umayyad (same family as Mu’awiya) strategically based Damascus: drew on army, networks build up by Mu’awiya

12. The Umayyad Caliphate “God turned a blind eye” [Hoyland]: army brought Marawan to power negotiated ‘truce’ with Byzantium: focused on building up power named son Abd al-Malik as successor 9 months later, Marawan died, Abd al-Malik became Caliph

13. The Umayyad Caliphate Legitimacy Challenged outside of Syria: many continued to fight for son of Ali (‘Alids’) [critical moment in evolution of Islam itself – lecture Monday on ‘Islam Divided’] Kharijites (“rebels”): opposed all dynastic government – Caliph should be most competent to enact God’s will

14. The Umayyad Caliphate Civil War 683 – 692: Abd al-Malik allowed competing groups to fight each other: eventually became weakened by 692: caliph’s forces able to successfully take on Abdullah with his death, Civil War ended

15. The Umayyad Caliphate Abd al-Malik: recognized need to re-build, re-unite Arabs torn apart by over decade of civil war tried to ‘harmonize’ systems of administration across region: - uniform coinage [note significance of coins to articulating power, unity – much more than currency] - Arabic made ‘official language’

16. The Umayyad Caliphate Renewed Mu’awiya’s earlier policy of having ‘Viceroy’ manage Eastern Territories: was to enforce allegiance to Umayyads [these were territories where support for Alids strong, shia islam grew – see ‘Islam divided’, lecture Mon. Feb. 6] crush any remaining ‘dissenters’

17. The Umayyad Caliphate Islam ‘elevated’: policy of putting Islam ‘front and centre’ in all aspects of administration, bureaucracy [will return to with discussion of ‘Islam Evolving’, lecture Mon. Feb.6]

18. The Umayyad Caliphate New Impetus to Empire: return to Conquest (most under son al-Walid) first forays West: return to North Africa – conquered ‘to the shores of the Atlantic’ (Morocco) moved into Spain: ‘Andalusia’ – to the frontiers of the Franks then moved East: south-east frontier of Iran, Transoxania ‘to the borders of China’

19. The Umayyad Caliphate Within twenty-years, Umayyads had won submission from Spain, North Africa, Northern and Southern Iran, most of central Asia: largest empire ever. . . Even compared to Roman Empire!

20. The Umayyad Caliphate North Africa: region had remained marginal to Arab interests much power had remained in hands of local Berbers (‘Moors’ of earlier lecture) now turned Westwards to finally take control – all the way to the Atlantic!

21. The Umayyad Caliphate 650: shows remaining Byzantine control in North Africa

22. The Umayyad Caliphate Major Battles: Carthage “the Prophetess”: fascinating story of ‘queen’ who was also prophet when captured, gave her children into care of Arab ‘conqueror’ he became their ‘protector’ (patron): when grown acquired posts in Arab army because of her action, both her family and her ‘people’ survived, prospered under Arab rule

23. The Umayyad Caliphate Major Battles: Mauritania (western Algeria, Morocco) most interesting aspect: undertaken by son of man captured, enslaved in conquest of Southern Iraq he had been put to work in the new administration established there he converted, was manumitted and ‘had risen quickly’ through the army ranks

24. The Umayyad Caliphate His Son: followed same career path served as Umayyad bureaucrat in key cities became first Governor of Africa (North Africa) captured Tangiers 708: most important settlement in region command in hands of Berber freed man: Tariq ibn Ziyad [video: led army into Andalusia - later]

25. The Umayyad Caliphate Qayrawan: now became centre of functioning government implemented taxation system tax payers were Africans and Berbers – all devoted Christians!

26. The Umayyad Caliphate South East Iran: difficult region: ‘recalcitrant’ 697: Military Commander told to ‘annihilate all opposition’ (to the caliphate) and enslave the people he was son of Freed Slave (of Muhammad) who had already been Governor of Sistan 671-3

27. The Umayyad Caliphate Poor strategy: disaster “lured on by hopes of booty and glory” [Hoyland], over-extended availability of provisions for men and horses forced to submit to humiliating peace had to leave many hostages behind died soon after (dishonour of failure?)

28. The Umayyad Caliphate Area remained beyond Arab control: two further attempts failed interesting case: Commander made decision to ‘suspend further advance’ because of likelihood of failure Caliph humiliated him, saw decision as ‘cowardly’ and insisted on continuing action

29. The Umayyad Caliphate Response: revolt Commander organized men to revolt against Caliph also sought support of local opposition revolt failed but showed growing weakness, divisions in dynasty thereafter, left region mostly alone: local elites ruled with relative autonomy

30. The Umayyad Caliphate To be continued. . . [See ‘Islam: Divided’ and ‘Islam: Evolution’, Lecture Mon. Feb. 6 for discussion specific aspects of this era and these events on the Religion of Islam]