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Post-Classical Period 600-1450. Rise Of Major Belief Systems. Fall of Classic Civilizations. Classical Period ends with decline of urban areas. Why?. Devastating plagues Invasions Decline of Ag. Production Political & economic decentralization.
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Rise Of Major Belief Systems Fall of Classic Civilizations
Classical Period ends with decline of urban areas. Why? • Devastating plagues • Invasions • Decline of Ag. Production • Political & economic decentralization
Urban Revival during Post- Classical Age. Why? • End of invasions • Availability of safe/reliable transport • Rise of commerce and warmer temps. between 800-1300 • Increased ag. production = rising pop. • Great availability of labor
Spread of Religions • Buddhism • Christianity • Islam
Why successfully spread? • Offers hope through afterlife • Emphasized spiritual life • Stressed importance of divine powers • Emphasized internal devotion • Helped those in need (poor, hungry, oppressed)
Origins of Islam • Why was the Arabian Peninsula both a likely and unlikely place to start a religion???
Likely Unlikely • Strategic location • Geography – desert • People – • Bedouins • Tribal • No unity Located bwn 3 continents & major waterways
Changes during Late Classical Period • Towns and Cities emerge * * * *
Materialistic culture emerges Literacy and Education increases
Islam as a “Unifier” • Distinctly Arabic • Ended feuding tribes • Source of Authority • Equality and a moral code • Trade and profit making
*Unity gave confidence Islamic Expansion *Valuable lands/trade/money *Drought in Arabia *Seek Converts Why conquest? First Commanded by Muhammad Followed by the first Caliphs
Why was it successful? • Quick, Agile Army • Weak Surrounding Empires • Taxing policies insured loyalty and revenue
Umayyad Dynasty661-750 • Capital moved to Damascus • Favoritism toward Arabs • Second wave of conquest/expansion: W. India to Spain • Caliph = religious leader; family = advisors
Abbasids Dynasty750-945 • Capital = Baghdad • Tolerance towards non-Arabs • Consolidated Empire • Caliph = Absolute ruler; Vizier headed complex bureaucracy • Global Network of Trade; Baghdad = major trade city • Baghdad = center of Islamic Golden Age
Problems within the Empire 1. Issues of Succession *After the death of Muhammad *Rightful heir?
Sunnis Forward Majority Anyone can assume role of caliph Shi’is (Shiite) Fundamentalists Minority Claim to be direct descendants to Muhammad-Only they can be caliph Division Emerges
2. Empire grew too big • Rebellious governors • Ruling a diverse people • End of Arabian dominance
RESULTS: • By 1000 Abbasids were crumbling • Other cultural influences takeover Arabs • Persians, Turks, Mongols • Arabian Political Dominance Islamic Cultural Dynamism
Complete the following Analogy What the birth and growth of Islam (Idea) did for the Arabs (people)… _____________________ (Idea) did for the__________________(people) because they both ____________________________________ ____________________________________