The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam & Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia Stearns 6 and 7

Geography Matters Desert Scattered Oases Clanish Bedouin Camel and goat herding Scattered Oases Areas of commerce and agriculture Tradition of long-distance trade

Clans, Identities, Rivalries Desert-living promotes group dependence Conflict over water and pastures

Culture Majority polytheistic; small Jewish populations Less patriarchal Women had economic roles in clan life Descent traced through female line Men paid a “bride-price” to wife’s family Both genders could have multiple spouses Women not shrouded in veils BUT men still considered superior, especially in cities Poetry

Muhammad and Islam 6th Century C.E. Orphaned, raised in a merchant family Widely travelled; introduced to monotheism 610 C.E. first revelation from Gabriel Revelations collected in the Qur’an

Islamic Triumph Initial oppression by Quraysh Mecca v. Medina 629 C.E. conquest of Mecca

Islam’s Consequences End of clan conflicts New missionary zeal Problem of succession

Umayyad Empire Ethnically Arab Governed by warrior elite Establishment of the Caliph Seeds of Sunni-Shi’a Split Rapid expansion Mesopotamia, North Africa, Persia Later Spain, France, Northwestern India Unable to topple Byzantines Economic motives as important as religious motives Desire to conquer for booty Need to limit converts to secure taxes and shares in booty Role of the Dhimmi (“People of the Book”)

Sunni-Shi’a Split Succession struggle Third Caliph, Uthman, murdered Ali wins caliphate but rejected by Umayyads Umayyads promote Mu’awiya; assassinate Ali Shi’a recognize only Ali’s line for caliphate

New Family and Gender Roles Initial improvement for women Conquered areas had been strictly patriarchal Muhammad promoted equality before Allah Adultery denounced Female infanticide outlawed Men had to treat all wives (up to four) equally Women had legal rights in inheritance and divorce But patriarchal cultures of conquered people prevails These mores not to be confused with Islamic belief

Umayyad Decline Expansion creates new tensions Unequal distribution of booty Fear that luxury and conquest at the expense of Islamic principles Men in provinces develop regional loyalties Abbasid clan revolts, 750. Allies with Shi’a; assassinate most Umayyad leaders

Abbasid Empire Less “Arab” identity (so many regional identities) Capital moved to Baghdad Elevation of Persian ruling concepts Bureaucratic expansion Persian influence Power of wazir Absolutism Actual office of royal executioner! Turned against Shi’a allies; support less tolerant Sunni Enjoyed luxurious living

New Islam No more distinction between Mawali and older believers Most conversions peaceful New artistic expression Mosque and palace construction Islamic scholarship alongside mathematics and science Sufism Ulama—will ultimately stifle mathematic and scientific achievements

Abbasid Economy Preeminence of merchant and landlord classes Goods traded from South China Sea to the Western Mediterranean Urban expansion Artisan handicraft Tapestries Rugs Ceramics Bronzes Glass Tenant farming Slavery

Scientific Achievements Chemistry created the objective experiment Classification of material substances Animal Vegetable Mineral Mathematics: built on Greek theories Astrolabe Medicine Paper-making (from China)

Abbasid Decline Begins in 9th century Overly luxurious living The Thousand and One Nights Caliphs depend on Persian advisors Persian becomes the court language and literary preference; Arabic for religion, law, and natural sciences Weaker caliphs More court intrigue Peasant revolts Slave armies Increased tax burdens Abandonment of agricultural villages Failure to reconcile with moderate Shi’a Succession disputes

Women’s Social Decline Myth of women’s incurable lust Leads to jealousy Need to cloister them Harem and veil symbolize this Poor women were more active—had to be

No-Good Nomads Persian Buyids capture Baghdad, 945 Caliphs controlled by sultans Seljuk Turks defeat Buyids, 1055 Push Byzantines out of Anatolia Purge Shi’a Mongols sack Baghdad, 1258—end Abbasid

Crusades Causes Effects Political Religious Cultural For Europeans For Muslims

Hinduism v. Islam Hinduism Islam Open Tolerant Inclusive polytheism Social division by caste Islam Doctrinaire Monotheistic Evangelical Egalitarian

Muslims invade India Umayyad conquered first Treat Hindus as Dhimmi Many Hindus welcome Muslim conquerors Lower taxes Not much effort to convert; tolerant Missionary activity by traders and Sufis Appeal to low and outcaste Hindus Many Buddhist converts Mosques become centers of learning and regional political power Hindu revival and backlash Brahmins denounce Muslims for destroying temples Use of the Race Card

India’s Influence India influenced Islam more than Islam influenced India Mathematics (numbers) Science and astronomy Medicine Music Foods, hierarchies, and attitudes toward women

Islam in Southeast Asia Spread peacefully through trading contacts More influenced by Sufi More mystical Better positions for women