Download
1 / 40
400 likes | 1.19k Views
Islam: Shia-versus Sunni/emergence of the Caliphates 632-1500. Muslim Mosque in Mecca. Kaaba, sacred shrine to Allah in Mecca. D144Kaaba. Hajj. Muslims performing the Hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca). The simple white garments symbolize the equality of believers. Muslim Pilgrimage.
E N D
Islam: Shia-versus Sunni/emergence of the Caliphates632-1500
Hajj Muslims performing the Hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca). The simple white garments symbolize the equality of believers.
Jihad • “Jihad” among extremists refers to “Holy Wars” against the infidels or of Territorial expansion. • Among moderates, Jihad refers to “Defense” of one’s faith; and or an “inner struggle” to rid oneself of evil and submit to Allah.
Emergence of Shia—split with Sunnis • Claim that ‘Ali’s descendents were the true successors to Muhammad. Shia-Ali (party of Ali) • Muhammad died without naming an heir; some believed his cousin Ali should be his successor • 661 CE, Ali was murdered; 680 CE, his son, Husayn, was killed in Iraq • Ali and Husayn were the first martyrs of the Shi’ites (Shia Ali) • Shia community recognizes the Imans, the successors to ‘Ali’s Spiritual Authority • Recognizes Koran only, not Koran and Sunna (traditional teachings) as authoritative.
Comprises 85% of Muslims Considered to be mainstream everywhere except in Iran Sources of religious and legal authority are the Qur’an and the hadith (traditions) Analogy and consensus are used to arrive at solutions Sunnis often able to adapt to different cultures without losing their own values or beliefs Sunnis
Imams • Spiritual leaders of Islam are the imams • Imams are without sin and can interpret scripture without error • Innovation possible only through an imam’s approval • Belief in the Mahdi (guided one) - messianic figure who will lead the world into a time of peace • Sunni and Shi’a disagree over the scope and power of Imams: for Sunni, the Imam is a prayer leader; for the Shi’a, the Imam is temporal leader—the True Caliph.
Caliph • Caliph or “Deputy” refers to the Islamic rulers after the death of Muhammad. • Abu-Bakr is first Caliph (632-624) • The first four caliphs expanded the kingdom still further. • Caliphs have both religious & civil authority.
Eras of Islamic Civilization • 570-632: Muhammad-Founder • 632-661: First four Caliphs: - Expansion in Mideast • 661-750: Ummayad Dynasty-(Centered in Damascus) Expansion in N.Africa & Spain
Eras of Islamic Civilization cont. • 750-1258: Abbasid Dynasty, Golden Age at Baghdad • 1000s-1400s: Seljuks &Mongols • 1453-WW I: Ottoman Empire; & Fragmentation
The Umayyad Caliphate • Flourish from 661 to 750 • Centered in Damascus • Nearly took Constantinople (674-77) but were deterred by Greek Fire • Captured Spain but were defeated by Charles Martel at Tours in 732. • Weakness of Umayyads—only Arabs could be Muslims—opposed by Abbasids who accepted Muslims of all ethnicities
The Abbasid Caliphate • Flourished from 750 to 1258 • Centered in Baghdad • Great libraries, academies, and schools. • Translated classical Greek scholarship into Arabic—preserving it for posterity • Achievements in Medicine, astronomy, and Mathematics • Muslim states in West break away from Abbasid control beginning in 756. • Seljuk Turks convert to Islam and conquer Abbasids (1055) but allow Abbasids to continue to rule • Genghis Khans Grandson topples Abbasids in 1258
Ottoman Empire (1300-1918) • The Ottoman Empire would rival that of China in size and economic power. • But over time the Ottoman Empire would be weakened until the twentieth century. • Yet under Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) the Ottoman Empire expanded into North Africa and Syria.
Growth of the Ottoman Empire • For nearly 300 years the Ottomans expanded into the Balkans and to Persia. • By 1683 the Turks controlled Hungary in Europe to the Persian Gulf. • Initial Ottoman conquest and expansion was under their able leader Osman (1299-1326). • Osman was a ghazi, or warrior, who was determined to spread the faith.
Why Did The Ottomans Succeed? • Ottomans tolerated other faiths—didn’t fight wars of religious exclusivism • Many in Old Byzantine Empire were weary of corruption in Byzantine state
Key Events of the Ottoman State • 1389 – Defeat the Serbs at Battle of Kosovo. • 1396 – Crushed the Hungarians and foreign knights at Nicopolis. • 1402 – Tamerlane defeats the Ottomans near Ankara. • 1453 – Turks capture Constantinople by Mohammed II. • 1517 – Turks captured Cairo. • 1529 – First siege of Vienna. • 1683 – Second siege of Vienna.
Historic Contributions of the Islamic Civilizations • Rhazes (d. 925): Medical expert of the Abbasid Dynasty who studied optics; Caesarian operations and more. • Most famous treatise On Small Pox and Measles
Historic Contributions of the Islamic Civilizations • Avicenna (d. 1037): A Muslim scholar of the Abbasid Dynasty who excelled in both Medicine and Philosophy • His Canon of Medicine was translated into Latin in the 12th century and by the 16th century was in its 35th edition.
Historic Contributions of the Islamic Civilizations • Aveorres (d. 1198): Philosopher of the Abbasid Dynasty who tried to harmonize Islamc faith with Aristotelian logic.
Distillation of Alcohol • Developed about 800 • Al-kuhl means “the essense”
Astrolabe • Used for astronomy & for navigation. • It is believed that the Muslim al-Fazari (d.777A.D.) was the first scientist in the MidEast to make an astrolabe, following the arrival of an Indian mission to Baghdad.
Muslim Medicine • Muslim physicians were active in the advancement of surgical techniques, and were among the first to use narcotic and sedative drugs in operations.
Omar Khyyam • Of the Abbasid Dynasty was the author of the Rubaiyat and the Book of 1001 Nights. • “A Book of Verses underneath the Bough; A jug of wine, a loaf of bread—and thou beside me in the wilderness—Oh Wilderness were paradise enow!”
Harun Al Rashid (800s) • An esteemed ruler of the Abbasid Dynasty who exchanged gifts, and established friendly relations with Charlemagne (ruler of the greatest Christian Kingdom in Europe at that time).
Cordoba, Spain • From 756 - 1031, Cordoba was a political and cultural center for the Muslims.
Muslim Art & Architecture • The Muslim religion prohibited the picturing of human and natural forms. • Muslim art was thus channeled into artistic displays of great geometric complexity and abstract ornamentation.
Muslim Art & Architecture • This Muslim mosque in Seville, was built in 1172. • It was converted to a Chrisitan Cathedral in 1248.
So If Islam was so cool, what happened? • Present Mindedness—who knows if we won’t all be dead or Muslim? • Problem of Closed Revelation • Failure to form effective states • Weak/decadent rulers • Focus on moral reform and supernatural deliverance rather than structural/material reform—Wahabbism.
