The Early Islamic World 600-1258

Pre-Islamic Arabia, c. 600 Bedouin clans Camel herders and town dwellers Frequent feuds over pasturing/water resources, travel routes, rivalries Trade network Role of religion < tribal custom polytheism

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam Merchant Revelations 610-632, later written into the Qur’an (=recitation) Islam – Submision God - Allah Escape from Mecca to Medina, 622 (Hijra) Return to Mecca in triumph, 628 Death left no clear successor

The Appeal of Islam Uncompromising monotheism in a land that had known only insignificant gods Belonged to no single tribe or clan –unity Arab in origin (alternative to foreign faiths of Judaism and Christianity) Last Prophet Ethical system to heal social divisions equal under god

Five Pillars of Islam Statement of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” In Arabic: http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch3-16-1.htm

Prayer 5 times a day, facing Mecca How to pray: http://english.islamway.com/prayer/BegSound.htm

Hajj (Required pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime )

Kabba What restrictions are put its subjects

Kabba located in Mecca Built by Abrahma and Ishmael Over time turned into pagan worship site Mecca busy trading city Conqured by Muhammad 630 CE. idols destroyed. Rededicated to Abramam

Final two pillars: Fasting during Ramadan Zakat (tithe for charity)

After Muhammad – Division Within… 4 Rightly Guided caliphs, though disagreements about whether the caliph should be a direct relative of the prophet Ali, 4th caliph and Muhammad’s cousin and brother-in-law, was rejected and assassinated by the Umayyads Continued split between Sunni and Shi’ites Muslims

…but also great success Under caliphs, Arabia was reunited following brief breaking away after Muhammad’s death (Ridda) Ended the Ridda 1st Caliph. Abu Bakr Muhammad is prophet not God Reason for exapansion Strength of Arab armies combined with weakness of neighbors

Umayyad Empire, 660-750 Treatment of Women Dhimmis Mawali Shi’ite Merchants Ayan Small farmers Treatment of

Umayyads alienated many Placed capital at Damascus Soldiers, especially on frontiers, unhappy with distant, corrupt, unfair rulers Abbasid rebellion started in eastern part of empire (Iran) but spread, drawing support from dissident groups, among them Shi’ite ans and mawali

Abbasid Empire 750-850: unified, center at Baghdad Treatment of Women Dhimmis Mawali Shi’ite Merchants Ayan Small farmers Treatment of

Abbasid Empire, cont. 850-1050: breakup into regional dynasties: Umayyads in Spain, Fatimids in Cairo (ruled Egypt & Syria), Turkish tribes swept into Middle East from Central Asia, converted to Islam and controlled the Islamic heartland Authority of caliph became more religious than political Regional sultans sought confirmation of their power from the caliph

Abbasid Empire, cont. 11th-13th c.: new external threats Christian Crusades Mongols – threatened entire Middle East, remained in power in Iran & Iraq, where they converted to Islam Invasions helped cause the fall of the old states & slow creation of 3 new states

3 New states emerge, 1258-1600 Safavid (Shi’ite) dynasty in Iran Moghul dynasty in India Ottoman Empire centered in Asia Minor (which will conquer Byzantines in 1453)

Credits Slide 6 photo: (Uzbek Muslims paying) http://www.helsinki-hs.net/picpage.asp?IsoID=4B7WRDh8w Slide 7 photo: http://lexicorient.com/e.o/index.htm (search for Hajj) Slide 8 photo: http://lexicorient.com/e.o/index.htm (search for Ka’ba) Slide 13 map: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~davidyag/map6-a.jpg Slide 14 map: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/maps/islam2map.gif Slide 19 map: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~davidyag/map6-b.jpg