Umayyad Arab conquerors

Umayyad Empire stretched from Spain to central Asia Administrative Reforms Caliph appointed governors to rule far-flung provinces Governors ruled from strong garrison towns Spoils from victories helped finance Umayyad government

Instituted a three-level tax system: 1) Muslims: paid zakat 2) Muslim converts, considered mawali, paid higher tax than Muslims 3) Non-Muslims paid highest tax, jizya (security tax)

The Down Fall Many devout Muslims opposed extravagant lifestyles of Umayyad rulers Persians resented secondary status in Umayyad empire Abbasids (led by Abbas) of Persia revolted against Damascus After defeating Umayyad armies, Abbasids took control of Muslim empire

Preservers, Islamic flowering Abbasid Preservers, Islamic flowering

Rise of Abbasid Party The party traced its descent from Muhammad’s uncle, al-Abbas. Al-Abbas’ great great grandson, Abu al-Abbas led his forces against the Umayyads. Shi’a were his allies. Mawali (Islamic converts) also supported him to gain acceptance in the community of believers. Captured Umayyad capital in Syria At “Reconciliation Banquet” al-Abbas slaughtered remaining Umayyad family.

Early Abbasid Era Began to reject Shi’a and Malawi allies…and defended Sunni Islam. Built a centralized, absolutist imperial order. New capital: Baghdad “The Round City” (2km in diameter) on Tigris River Baghdad became the richest city in the world (only Constantinople came close) Sat on jeweled thrones. Had palaces and harems! Image of elitism was important. For more than a century, able to collect revenue and preserve law over much of the empire.

Islamic Conversion and Mawali Acceptance Mass conversions to Islam were encouraged throughout the empire. Most converts were won over peacefully because of appeal of Islamic beliefs and advantages they enjoyed: - didn’t have to pay head tax - educational opportunities - jobs as traders, administrators, judges

Economics of Dar al-Islam Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion

New Crops & Urban Growth Several factors led to strong internal economy Location Size of empire Beliefs of Islam Hajj View of merchants “People of the Book” Muslim merchants formed joint ventures with Christian and Jewish traders. Because each merchant had a different Sabbath, they could work 7 days/week. Merchants grew rich supplying cities with goods throughout the empire.

New Crops & Urban Growth Fostered diffusion of crops & technologies Sugarcane, rice, eggplants, oranges, lemons, limes, bananas, coconuts, watermelons, cotton Irrigation, fertilization, crop rotation Impact = more planting seasons, increased food supplies, urban growth, wealthy merchant & landlord class, slave trade Camel, camel saddle, compass, paper, astrolabe, triangular lateen sail, dhows Impact = formation of hemispheric trading zone Much unskilled labor was left to slaves. Some slaves were able rise to positions of power and gain freedom (like what other empire?) Huge estates might have slaves, indentured servants or sharecroppers.

Hemispheric Trading Zone Acting as merchants on Silk Roads Acting as merchants on Trans-Sahara Routes Acting as merchants on Indian Ocean Impact: Interconnection b/t Africa, Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China; Improved banking; New business forms that spread risks Example = Africa

The First Flowering of Islamic Learning Early contributions from Abbasid were great mosques and palaces. Ex: Dome of the Rock Advances in religious, legal and philosophical discourse. Science and Math! Abbasid scholars preserved Greek works of medicine, algebra, geometry, astronomy, anatomy, and ethics. Arabic traders in India carried the Indian number system across Mediter. and into Northern Europe. These number systems became ESSENTIAL to Scientific Revolution in W. Europe.

Global Connections: Early Islam & the World Abbasid Empire was the “go-between” for the ancient civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere…this role grew as Arab trade networks expanded. Islam pioneered patterns of organization and thinking that would affect human societies in major ways for centuries. 5 Centuries = Spread of Islam played a dominant role in the Afro-Eurasian World.