Spread of Islam

1. Spread of Islam By Dana Green, Elizabeth Easter, Marcus Bae http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A

2. Overview Islamic civilization was strengthened during Abbasid rule despite the many problems with succession and political control. Abbasid rule eventually was defeated by the Mongols in the 13th century. Regardless of this Islam expanded widely through the Afro-Asian world.

3. Outline http://current.com/news-and-politics • General Spread Patterns • Comparisons of modern states with a sizeable Muslim population • South Asia

4. General Spread Patterns • Dhows were main sea transport and trading ships of Muslims and Sufis. Played an essential role in the spread of Islam • Used mass conversions that lasted. • Main hotspots are located in the Middle East, surrounding South Asian Areas,  and Africa.

5. General Spreading Patterns •  Sufis acted as mystics and revitalized Islam in the late Abbasid period • Some came known as miracle workers and healers while other forced Islam upon other using militant groups.

7. South Asia • Muslim Trade and migration to India created the first of conflicts between the 2 regions. • Migrating and invading Muslims were exceptionally tolerant to other religions, also promising lighter taxes. • This led to peaceful surrenders and voluntary conversions. • In early stages, there was not much attempt at conversion of local populace. • Islam was impossible for Hinduism to absorb, so differences started being emphasized. • Muslims started being denounced by Brahmins. • Islam gained a foothold in India, but remains a puny minority to Hinduism.

8. South Asia • In early stages, there was not much attempt at conversion of local populace. • Islam was impossible for Hinduism to absorb, so differences started being emphasized. • Muslims started being denounced by Brahmins. • Islam gained a foothold in India, but remains a puny minority to Hinduism.

9. Interesting Fact In 945 Persian Buyids capture Bagdad; caliphs become puppet rulers http://www.historyofjihad.org/crusades

10. Terms • Lateen-triangular sails attached to the dhows by long booms • Dhows- small, sturdy, graceful and highly maneuverable ships • Sufis-Mystics within Islam; responsible for expansion of Islam to southeastern Asia and other regions • Mongols- Central Asia nomadic peoples; smashed Turko-Persian kingdoms; captured Bagdad in1258 and killed last Abbasid caliph • Al- Mahdi- Third of the Abbasid caliphs; attempted but failed to reconcile moderates among Shi’a to Abbasid dynasty; failed to resolve problem of succession • Harun al-Rashid- one of the most famous and enduring Abbasid caliphs • Crusades-series of military adventures initially launched by western Christians to free Holy Land from Muslims; temporarily succeeded in capturing Jerusalem and establish Christian kingdoms; later used for other purposes such as commercial wars and extermination of heresy • Saladin- Muslim leader in the last decades of the 12th century; reconquered most of the crusader outpost for Islam • Buyids-regional splinter dynasty of the mid-10th century; invaded and captured Bagdad; ruled Abbasid Empire under title of sultan; retained Abbasids as figureheads

11. Terms • Seljuk Turks-Nomadic invaders from central Asia vs. Persia; staunch Sunnis; ruled in name of Abbasids caliphs from mid-11th century • Chinggis Khan- born in 1170s in decades following death if Kabul Khan; elected khagan of all Mongols tribes in 1206; responsible for conquest of northern kingdoms of China, territories as far west as the Abbasid regions; died in 1227, prior to conquest of most of Islamic world • Hulega-Ruler for the ilkhan khanate; grandson of Chiggis Khan; responsible for capture for capture and destruction of Bagdad in 1257 • Mamluks- Muslim slave warriors; established a dynasty in Egypt; defeated by the Mongols at Ain Jalut in 1260 and halted Mongol advance • Al –Ghanzali- Brilliant Islamic theologian; struggled to fuse Greek and Qur’anic traditions; not entirely accepted by ulama