The Rise of Islam

Middle East, ca. 600 A.D.

Pre Islamic Arabia Caravan Culture Tribal organization Pilgrimage to Mecca Violent, warrior states based on vendetta culture ghazu (raids) on caravans Patriarchal

The Ka’aba in Mecca

Origins of Islam Beginning of His Ministry Muhammad in Mecca The Hijra Umma: community of believers 1

The Quran Record of revelations received during visions Committed to writing c. 650 CE (Muhammad dies 632) Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith

Five Pillars Confession of faith Prayer 5 times a day Charity to the needy Fasting during the month-long Ramadan Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during one’s lifetime

Early Problems Succession Mohammed had no surviving male children generated a permanent split in the Islamic community Sunnis Shi’as

Islam, Women, and Slaves Qu’ran improves status of women Outlawed female infanticide Brides, not husbands, claim dowries Rights under Islamic law Yet male dominance preserved Patrilineal descent Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice Slavery

Umayyad Policy toward Conquered Peoples Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE) Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750 Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them Only Spain remains Umayyad North Africa is disputed territory, ultimately Fatamid Mosque of Abu Abbas al-Mursi in Alexandria

Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab) Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion Dar al-Islam Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces

Abbasid Decline Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid Provincial governors assert regional independence Dissenting sects, heretical movements Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne Crusades

Imperial Breakdown Problems with rural population Declining position of women Nomadic Incursion Impact of Christian Crusades

Reasons for Islam’s success exhaustion of Rome and Persia End of a 400 year war nationalist sentiments in Egypt and Syria arguments among Christian factions speed and size of Muslim armies simplicity and uncomplicated nature of Islam acceptance of the Old and New Testament People of the Book

Consequences of Islamic Expansion loss of the oldest and most central lands of Christendom aided the ascendancy of the bishop of Rome virtual collapse of Zoroastrianism as a major religion radically altered the balance of power between the Roman Empire and the East disruption of the Mediterranean economic community

Re-centering of Islam No religious center Madrasses Sufi brotherhoods Asceticism, mysticism Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians Wide popularity

Cultural influences on Islam Persia Administration and governance literature India Mathematics, science, medicine “Hindi” numbers Greece Philosophy, esp. Aristotle Greek medicine Rome and Byzantium Architecture

Islamic Art and Architecture Found all over the world Influenced from other classical traditions Expression of divine presence Both secular and religious Major practices: Metalwork Pottery Painting Calligraphy rugs

Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount Jerusalem

The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Greak Mosque, Cordova

Illuminated page from Koran, Baghdad – 14th century Calligraphy Vegetal patterns Geometric interlace

Seljuk Dyanstic Period Mosaic Mihrab from Persia, 1354 Glased and tiled ceramic

Islamic Civilization Law and Dogma Shari’a: Codification of Islamic law Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools of analysis Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of human activity This is the basis the idea of an “Islamic republic” for instance Converts and Cities Persian Literature Scientific Achievements A depiction of a Medieval Islamic astronomer. Thought by some to represent Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi.