Review: Civilizations of the Middle East (PERSIAN)

Umayyad 661-750CE Political: Umayyad family comes to power in 661BCE (Sunni); capital in Damascus, Syria; Lead by the Caliph; Arab conquest state; Brought stability to Islamic community; Bureaucratic government; centralized govt Economic: Indian Ocean trade; traded incense , horses, and spices; Provincial governors collect taxes; Religion: Islam; Conversion was low; Religious tolerance towards Jews and Christians (People of the Book)

Social- Poverty gap, sometimes caused rebellions; emphasized Arabic ethnicity (Arabs had more privileges than non-Arab Muslims) Intellectual/Artistic: dhows (sailing vessels); mosques; recovered and preserved Greek writings; Dome of the Rock built Near: North Africa; Spain; Arabia Middle East

Abbasid 750 -1258CE Political- Overthrew the Umayyads; Shi’ites; Bureaucratic; Persians- dominate upper levels of govt; Bureaucracy filled with non-Arabs and many Persians; Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion; centered on Baghdad Economic- Continuance of Indian Ocean Trade; Caravan trade; growth of cities; Silk Road Trade (spread of Islam)

Religion: Islam; mystic Sufis establish missions to spread Islam Social: All Muslims could hold civil and military offices, regardless of ethnicity. Increasing poverty gap led to rebellions; as Muslims came into contact with other civilizations, particularly Mesopotamia and India, they tended to adopt more restrictive ideas about women Religion: Islam; mystic Sufis establish missions to spread Islam Intellectual: preservation and use of ancient Greek, Roman, and Persian philosophies (logic, art, architecture, literature); advances in math and science; adoption of Indian “Arabic” numerals; transmission of these numbers to the West; discoveries: astrolabe, maps of stars, optic surgery; emphasis on learning; universities built

Art: “Golden Age” ;calligraphy, arabesques for writing and pottery; new architecture: minarets; literary achievements Near: Modern day Iraq; Arabia; North Africa

Il-Khan- Mongol Rule 1258 Political: Direct Rule by Mongols (Hulegu est. rule in Middle East) the government installed by the Mongols in Persia granted important concessions to local interests. Although Mongols retained the highest administrative positions, Persians served as ministers, provincial governors, and state officials at all lower levels. Economic: Foreign trade increased; Pax Mongolica made land travel safer for merchants; Sea trade improved; foreign merchants welcomed to China’s ports; Guarded trade routes across Asia (Silk Road), allowed trade to increase; people, goods, ideas flowed across Asia; Tax Farming- merchants/local leaders collect taxes; heavy tax burden on population

Near: Iran, Arabia, Byzantine Empire Religion: Religious pluralism and toleration; Il Khan ruler Ghazan did convert to Islam Social:Disease including the bubonic plague spread among the world. Unparalleled cultural diffusion; Ruthless annihilation of resistance (terror tactics). Int/Art: Growth of trade led to the spread of scientific knowledge; Muslim advances in astronomy, science, and mathematics all passed along to Europe Near: Iran, Arabia, Byzantine Empire

Ottoman Empire 1281 Political- The head of the Ottoman State was the Sultan, the Sultan was the supreme political and religious leader of the Turks. Selim will add the title Caliph I in 1519. A caliph is a religious and political leader of the Islamic World. Sultans/Caliphs rule over Viziers or advisors who in turn rule over a series of provincial governors Military State: the strength of the Ottoman Empire was their advanced military state. The state was based on technological advancements such as gunpowder and premier organizational strategies. They used an elite fighting force (the Janassaries). No clear line of succession

Economic-Government regulated commercial exchanges and handicraft production; agriculture; caravan land trade; the city of Istanbul was the crossroads of trade between the East and West; Goods: Silk & other cloth, Spices such as pepper, dyes such as indigo Religion-Ottomans ruled over “Millets” or communities of different religions. Allowed for religious toleration; non-Muslims paid an extra tax

Social- Harem for women; multi-ethnic/multi-religious society; society was divided between Muslims and non-Muslims with the former having a higher social standing Int/Art-Excelled in architecture and writing; Islamic scientists Near: Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa