ABBASID EMPIRE Advanced Learning Decline

UMAYYAD REVIEW powerful Arab clan from the time of Muhammad’s life won Ridda Wars to dominate Arabia - economic motives mawali - did not have advantages dhimmi - tolerance, but taxes capital at Damascus greater equality for women

ABBASID REVIEW moved capital to Baghdad mawali accepted, advantages wazir administrative leader (Persian) urban, less rights for women (veil, harem) dhow boats, greater global trade adopted Indian math, Chinese invensions sponsorship of mosques, libraries built on Greek and Roman learning

LIST ADVANCEMENTS Persian literature Persian poetry (Sa’di) algebra, Bayt al-Hakma House of Wisdom Persian literature Persian poetry (Sa’di) algebra, geometry, trigonometry hospitals (Egypt) optics - eyes papermaking silk-weaving ceramics map making

Muslim influence on math, learning

CONSIDER DECLINE 1) rivalry with Shi’a / peasant revolts 2) excessive luxury 3) problem of succession 4) new, rival groups

DECLINE - FIRST CAUSE rivalry with Shi’a peasant revolts quickly discarded after help overthrowing Umayyad constantly agitating against Sunni majority had to pay for fighting and palace excesses government projects like irrigation fell apart

DECLINE - SECOND CAUSE Excessive luxury 4th caliph - Harun al-Rashid’s 1001 Nights gave Charlemagne elephant and water clock palace - harem, excessive slaves to do work

1001 Arabian nights all women are bad, king’s wife cheats “king” in bed with virgins, kills them the next morning.. no more virgins, vizier forced to offer his daughter... she starts new story every night….

DECLINE - THIRD CAUSE Problem of succession 3rd caliph’s son poisoned future sons build personal armies for protection leaders of slave army became more powerful than caliph

DECLINE - FOURTH CAUSE New, rival groups Buyids of Persia - 900’s Seljuk Turks 1055 - 1250 Mongols - 1200’s Christian Crusades 1095-1193