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The Islamic World 600 to 1500 A.D.

The Islamic World 600 to 1500 A.D. Arabia - Land of Contrasts - Well watered in the South - Desert and Oasis communities in the North Mecca - Crossroads for trade routes - Site of the Ka’aba Shrine. Bedouin Society. Nomadic Basic unit is the tribe

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The Islamic World 600 to 1500 A.D.

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  1. The Islamic World 600 to 1500 A.D. Arabia - Land of Contrasts - Well watered in the South - Desert and Oasis communities in the North Mecca - Crossroads for trade routes - Site of the Ka’aba Shrine

  2. Bedouin Society • Nomadic • Basic unit is the tribe - Townsmen (Oasis), Nomads, Semi-nomads - Ruler is the Sheikh (warrior in the North and Religious leader in the South) - Council of Elders (majlis) - Tribes are autonomous - herding and raiding or trade are means of support

  3. Pre-Islamic Religion • Polytheistic with Supreme God Allah heading a community of local spirits • Community of faith, no priests • Each tribe possesses a sacred stone • All tribes worship a sacred black meteorite called Ka’aba located in Mecca • Surrounded and heavily influenced by Judaism, Eastern Orthodoxy(Christianity) and Zoroastrians

  4. 5th and 6th Century Changes • Economic importance of Arabia Grows - Byzantine/Persian wars cut trade routes - Sea route from India to Arabia expands - Trading communities become wealthy - Friction grows between wealthy merchants and the Bedouins

  5. Into this increasingly intense world steps Muhammad • Orphaned member of powerful Kurash tribe in Mecca • Works as caravan manager for his uncle until he marries a wealthy widow • Age 40 he starts asking questions: How to live properly? • Meditates and finally receives revelations from the Angel Gabriel

  6. God calls Muhammad to Teach • Relies on other religions, but introduces some new ideas • Agrees with Rigid monotheism of other religions and absolute power of God (Allah) • Contrasts: • No chosen people, God is tied to all people • Jesus is a prophet not God as God can’t mingle with earthly substance • All pious monotheists are Muslims they are just misguided and don’t realize it

  7. Principle of Islam • Humans must behave morally • Use reason as a tool to find their way • All who submit to Allah are brothers (Islam) • Social justice is central to Islam • One is required to exert oneself (Jihad) to spread the word

  8. Qu’ran • Originally Muhammad memorizes the revelations from Gabriel and the Qu’ran (recitation) is spoken • Eventually written down about 651 A.D. • Principles of submission, absolute obedience • Followers of earlier prophets have strayed and Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet • hadith (reports of the words/actions of Muhammad)became the chief source of legal and religious norms.

  9. 5 Pillars of Islam • Confession of Faith: There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet • Daily prayer (first 3 then 5 times daily towards Jerusalem then Mecca) • Fast during Ramadan (atonement) • Zakat (tithe or charitable giving) • Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca once in lifetime)

  10. Early Islam • Claims to be last prophet of one and only God • Muhammad and 30 followers eventually flee to Medina a rival city (Hegira) • Basic ideas emerge: • No alcohol, pork • Honesty, modesty, fair inheritance • Women’s rights: marriage, divorce • Hajj, and worship rituals

  11. Early Islam • Muhammad rejected by Jews of Medina • Forms powerful political block by raiding caravans and attracts followers • Defines community of followers as the Umma (community) • Seizes control of Medina and then conquers Mecca with army of 10,000 • People of the Book (dhimmis) are largely left alone if the submit to Muhammad

  12. The Rise of Islam 610-750 AD. • Muhammad’s Vision (Khadija) -Monotheism, 5 pillars (declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity, Ramadan fast, hajj) • People of the book, Sharia • First Four Caliphs to 750 AD. Conquer Syria, Palestine, Persia, Egypt, North Africa • Why? Neighbors weak, Mobile war, unity -tax non-Muslims, protect “People of the Book”

  13. Expansion of Islam • 3 Phases • 650 Arabic phase • 650-950 A.D. Ummayad and Early Abbasid • Post 950 Post Abbasid and Mongol/Turkic • Western • Arabia, Egypt, Mesopotamia (Arabic Speakers) • North Africa: Trade precedes conquest many elites are Pre-converted, Spain 711, France, 719, Defeated by Charles Martel 733

  14. Expansion of Islam • Eastern • Destroy Persian Army in 651A.D., well into central Asia by 700 and reach India 713 A.D. • Why the success? • Jihad – spread the faith • Religious cohesion and Zeal : Not unusual to have nomad invasions, but religion keeps them from being absorbed like earlier invasions • Equality: no peasants means it is attractive to the poor • Byzantines and Sassanid Persians locked in a war • Fine Arnies: Fixed salaries, pay and loot attractive to Bedouins, Martyrdom, (loot,loot,loot) • Tolerance of dhimmis (People of the book) NO!!!! polytheists

  15. Successor’s to Muhammad • No clear successor to M when he dies • Will Islam survive? Revolts follow his death • First 4 Khalifs • Abu Bakr elected Khalifa (successor) • Enforces Qu’rannic law dies 534 • Duties emerge: links religion and gov’t , but not a Pope!!!! Control military and economy, publish Qu’ran

  16. Successor’s to Muhammad • Ummar 634-44 surge out of Arabia, seize fertile crescent, Egypt, Most of Iran, after he dies continue to N. Africa and rest of Iran by 650 • 3rd Khalif Uthman • Accused of advancing his family and is assassinated • Dispute arises: is the Khalif supposed to be related to Muhammad, the best leader or most moral person???

  17. Successor’s to Muhammad • Ali is elected but cousin of Uthman Mu’aiwya refuses to accept him • Civil war and Ummayad 661-750 family rises to power with Mu’aiwya Khalif • Leads to permanents split in Islamic Sects

  18. The Ulama • Khalif is not a Caesar-pope • Religious leaders are separate and preserve, interpret and apply the Qu’ran • Develop legal concepts, grammar rules, phonetic alphabet and script • Scholars called Ulama • By 9th Century serve as legal advisors, theologians, and interpret criminal law • Called Sharia Law : legal, social, commercial, political, ritual, moral issues all addressed • Ulama not a formal Clergy but form a new Scholar elite

  19. Islamic Sects • Sunnis (Sunna =tradition) • Best qualified leader should be Khalif • Absolute ruler, community/unity most important • Rely on Qu’ran, views of the Prophet (sunnas) and Ulama (Ummayad are Sunnis) • Kharijites (“seceders”) • Bedouin warriors strict Qu’ran principles • Total equality, only morally pure can lead • Depose leaders for immorality • Khalifs live in luxury are corrupt and sinners are not Muslims • Constantly split and re-split as each decides who real Khalif is.

  20. Islamic Sects • Shi’ites (“Partisans”) are family of Ali • Family of Muhammad or his daughter should be Khalif • Divide political and religious authority • Khalif is political and Military leader • Imam is descended from Muhammad, sinless, inspired by God • Resolves conflicts over Qu’ran • Mahdi, the guided one, will one day arise and create a Messianic age ending in Judgment day

  21. Umayyad Dynasty 661-750 AD. • 3rd Caliph is murdered and replaced by Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali and Ali is then killed • Splits Islam over Caliphate • Umayyad’s =Arab phase • local officials, vast wealth, religious bias • Appoint governors, collect taxes • Use local bureaucracy to run empire • Khalif is shadow of God on earth and Emirs (governors) and Amirs (Military) below him

  22. Umayyad Dynasty 661-750 AD. • Govern Empire with Sharia • Ulama runs schools (Madrasah) in every city and scholars travel so law code is uniform • Religious and political unity call Dar al Islam • Diwan • Sets up precedence of tribes Arabs superior • Arabic survives because Qu’ran is not translated • Non Arabs are 2nd class, become clients of Arab tribes • Constant Arab/Persian Tension • Early on decide Islam is universal and anyone can convert even though the lose the head tax on non-muslims

  23. Abbasid Dynasty 750-1258 • Kill Umayyads at a banquet • End Arab domination • Universal conversion to Islam • Mosques, Minarets, markets, massive trade in Baghdad • Umayyad Spain breaks away 850, Seljuk invasion 900 -1055, Crusades 1099-1244, Mongols 1216-1258

  24. Abbasids 750 - 950 • Emerge from Oxus River Region in central Asia • Use Asians and Persians to seize control 750 A.D. • Leaders form various ethnic groups • Persian language grows • Move capital to Baghdad from Damascus • Spain and N. Africa remain Ummayad • Come to rely on Viziers (Prime minister) and Mameluk slave warriors to protect state • After 850 steady decline and splintering of Empire

  25. Abbasids Decline 850- 950 • 850 N. Africa Breaks away under Harun Al Rashid • Iran breaks away • Slave revolt in Mesopotamia • Buyid Clan seizes control945 but keeps Abbasids as figureheads Buyid are Shi’ites • Seljuks invade in 1055 and keep Abbasids as figureheads to 1258 • Royal court is huge, costs terrible, layers of officials corrupt

  26. Culture • Social mobility, slavery (servants), sea and desert trade roots (spreads math, sugar, paper, bank check, • Arabesque, calligraphy, literature, medicine, astronomy, philosophy

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