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Islam in the Heartlands and Beyond. Consolidation of Sunni Orthodoxy. Decline of Caliphate enables rise of Ulama (scholars of Islamic law) . Rise of the Madrasa formalized Ulama training Sunni forcus on Orthopraxy --correct practice, not Orthodoxy --correct belief
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Consolidation of Sunni Orthodoxy • Decline of Caliphate enables rise of Ulama (scholars of Islamic law). • Rise of the Madrasa formalized Ulama training • Sunni forcus on Orthopraxy--correct practice, not Orthodoxy--correct belief • Orthopraxy is defined by the Ulama. • By 1000, Orthopraxy is fairly settled
Sufi Piety • Sufi are mystics who focus on simple life and communion with Allah • Asceticism and/or devotionalism • By 11th century, brotherhoods arise, often persecuted
Consolidation of Shi’ite Tradition • Seveners / Isma’illis: • 7 Imams • Often Revolutionary • Esoteric, Mystical Interpretation of Koran/Hadith • Fatmid Empire was Apex (10th-12 century AD)
Consolidation of Shi’ite Islam (II): Twelver Shi’a • 12 Imams before line ends • More literal interpretation of holy texts • 80% of Shi’ites • Add Hadith from the 12 Imams • The last Imam will return at end of time as the Mahdi; together with Jesus, he will reform the world to purity • Lots of would be revolutionaries claim the title
The Islamic West • Umayyad Dynasty in Spain (755-1086 AD) • Almoravid Dynasty (1086-1147 AD) • Almohads (1147-1225 AD)
Ibn Rushd / Averroes (1126-1198 AD) • Doctor, Philosopher, Polymath • The Incoherence of the Incoherence • A Defense of Aristotelian Philosophy • Religion and Philosophy = two views of same truths • Religion = Based on Faith, open to all • Philosophy = Grounded in Reason, only really accessible to the educated.
Ibn Arabi (1165-1240 AD) • Mystic and Philosopher and Sufi • Emphasized mystic path on unlocking human potential to approach the divine • Wrote 300 books • The Seals of Wisdom was his masterpiece.
Moses Maimonides (1135-1204 AD) • Jewish rabbi, doctor, and philosopher • Many Greek ideas pass from Islam to Christianity through his work passing ideas to other Jews in Europe • Tried to reconcile the Torah with Greek Philosophy • Overcame initial opposition.
The Fatmid Empire (969-1171 AD) • Claimed descent from Mohammed through Fatima • Tunisian Dynasty --> Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Sicily and Egypt • Founded a Shi’ite Caliphate (Sevener) • Founded Cairo as capital.
Fatmid Decline • Isma’ili Assassins • Founded 1000 AD by Fatmid Defector • Esoteric, Mystical, Drugged Assassins • Destroyed by the Mongols • Saladin and Nur al-Din • Rulers of Syria • Conquer Egypt in 1171 AD • Impose Sunni Islam
Mamluks (1250-1517 AD • Slave Soldiers • Used to overcome loyalty of tribal warriors to local leaders by Caliphs • Overrused by Saladin’s descendents • During Saint Louis’ crusade, they took over Egypt in 1250 AD • Defeated the Mongols in 1260
Mamluk Apogee and Decline • Sultan Baybars (1260-1277) overcomes Crusaders, sets up puppet Caliph • Conquered by the Ottomans in 1517 AD
The Islamic East • Abassid Usurpers: • Samanids at Bukhara (875-999 AD) and the Buyids at Baghdad (945-1055 AD) • The Seljuk Turks (1055-1194 AD) • Tugril Beg, Sultan--“Authority” (1037-1063 AD) • Seljuks controlled much of Abassid Caliphate; for a time, trade and culture revived.
Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 AD) • Sufi theologian, ulama, mystic, and philosopher • Helped acceptance of Sufis by others • The Incoherence of the Philosophers • Heavily condemned Greek-style philosophy as useless at best and evil at worst • Only God’s will determines events • Most Islamic writers henceforth turned against philosophy; contributes to eventual decline of Islamic nations compared to Europe
Islam and the Mongols • Ilkhanid Dynasty (1261-1335 AD) • Hulagu Khan founds it in 1250s • Checked by the Mamluks in 1250 AD • Tolerant rulers who eventually converted to Islam • Decay after 1335 AD
Timurids • Timur-i Lang (Timur the Lame / Tamerlane), 1336-1405 AD • Devastates central Asia, killing millions • Last of the Steppe Conquerors • Timurid Dynasty (1405-1494 AD)
Islam in India and SE Asia • Moslem Merchants spread Islam by Trade • Various Groups of Moslems conquer pieces of India for a time, repeatedly • Dehli Sultanate (1200s-1400s) • Bahmanids (1347-1527 AD): South-Central India (The Deccan) • Indonesia: Traditional Orthopraxy was challenged due to things like the difficulty of pilgrimage to Mecca and Coast vs Interior Conflict.
Religious and Cultural Accomodation • North India and Deccan = Moslem ruled over Hindu masses • Ghazis = Warriors of Moslem Faith • Hindus treated Moslems as new castes • Persian is dominant Moslem language • Urdu-Hindi blends local language and Persian and Arabic
Hindus under Moslem Rule • Indian Buddhism dies • Vaishnava Brahman Ramnuja (d. 1137) reconciles bhakti (popular devotion to a God) with Upanashadic religious tradition
The Gita Govinda (12th Century) • By Jayadeva of Puri • A masterwork of love poetry mixed with Theology, about Krishna (avatar of Vishnu) and his cowgirl lovers • Redefines Vishnu worship to appeal to non-ruling caste members, as a love affair of bhakti devotion • Krishna becomes the central figure of whom other gods are aspects.