The Islamic Empires SS.A.2.4.6; SS.B.2.4.3; SS.A.1.4.3

Muhammad’s Death  M. never named successor, no son  Follower’s choose M’s father-in-law Abu Bakr as caliph  Under Abu Bakr, Islam expands through jihad, “struggle in the way of God”  The Quran permits fair, defensive warfare  M. never named successor, no son  Follower’s choose M’s father-in-law Abu Bakr as caliph  Under Abu Bakr, Islam expands through jihad, “struggle in the way of God”  The Quran permits fair, defensive warfare

Growing Power:  636: Caliphate stuns the Byzantine army by defeating them at Yarmuk  640: Arabs take control of Byzantine province of Syria  642: Egypt & N. Africa added to Arab Empire  650: Arabs conquer Persian Empire  Medina serves as capital of Arab Empire  636: Caliphate stuns the Byzantine army by defeating them at Yarmuk  640: Arabs take control of Byzantine province of Syria  642: Egypt & N. Africa added to Arab Empire  650: Arabs conquer Persian Empire  Medina serves as capital of Arab Empire

Early Arab Governance  After Abu Bakr’s death, there is little agreement as to who should rule; next 3 caliphs assassinated  In conquered areas, many local leaders allowed to stay in power  Locals not forced to convert to Islam, religious tolerance common  After Abu Bakr’s death, there is little agreement as to who should rule; next 3 caliphs assassinated  In conquered areas, many local leaders allowed to stay in power  Locals not forced to convert to Islam, religious tolerance common

The Umayyad Dynasty  661: General Mu’awiyah, governor of Syria, becomes caliph  Made caliphate hereditary, establishing the Umayyad Dynasty  Moves capital of Arab Empire from Medina to Damascus, Syria  661: General Mu’awiyah, governor of Syria, becomes caliph  Made caliphate hereditary, establishing the Umayyad Dynasty  Moves capital of Arab Empire from Medina to Damascus, Syria

Umayyad Conquest  Early 700s: Arabs conquer/convert the Berbers of North Africa  710: Arab & Berber forces cross the Straits of Gibraltar conquer Spain, Cordoba made state capital  732: Battle of Tours stops Muslim expansion into Europe  717: Byzantine Navy defeats Arab fleet, tensions along boarder  Early 700s: Arabs conquer/convert the Berbers of North Africa  710: Arab & Berber forces cross the Straits of Gibraltar conquer Spain, Cordoba made state capital  732: Battle of Tours stops Muslim expansion into Europe  717: Byzantine Navy defeats Arab fleet, tensions along boarder

Umayyad Problems  Non-Arab Muslims do not like the way Umayyad government treats Arabs better than others  Hussein, son of Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet leads a revolt  Umayyad forces crush Hussein’s small army--those who disagree with Umayyads consider only Ali’s family as true leaders of Islam  Non-Arab Muslims do not like the way Umayyad government treats Arabs better than others  Hussein, son of Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet leads a revolt  Umayyad forces crush Hussein’s small army--those who disagree with Umayyads consider only Ali’s family as true leaders of Islam

The Two Islams:  Disagreement about caliphate leads to a split in the faith:  Shiite Muslims accept only the descendants of Ali as true leaders of Islam  Sunni Muslims were those who accepted Umayyad rule  Today, most of the world’s Muslims are Sunni, where the majority of people in Iran and Iraq consider themselves Shiite  Disagreement about caliphate leads to a split in the faith:  Shiite Muslims accept only the descendants of Ali as true leaders of Islam  Sunni Muslims were those who accepted Umayyad rule  Today, most of the world’s Muslims are Sunni, where the majority of people in Iran and Iraq consider themselves Shiite

The Abbasid Dynasty  Umayyad corruption brings about unrest, revolt  750: Abu al-Abbas, a descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, gains power  Establishes Abbasid Dynasty which lasts to 1258  Umayyad corruption brings about unrest, revolt  750: Abu al-Abbas, a descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, gains power  Establishes Abbasid Dynasty which lasts to 1258

Abbasid Rule  New capital built on Tigris River--called Baghdad, strategic place  River traffic to Persian Gulf  Eastern placement of capital lends Persian influence  Warriors no longer heroes, replaced by merchants, judges & gov officials  Non-Arabs able to hold gov & military office  Inter-marriage common  Translating Greek writings encouraged  Caliphate became more regal, viziers help in administration of empire  New capital built on Tigris River--called Baghdad, strategic place  River traffic to Persian Gulf  Eastern placement of capital lends Persian influence  Warriors no longer heroes, replaced by merchants, judges & gov officials  Non-Arabs able to hold gov & military office  Inter-marriage common  Translating Greek writings encouraged  Caliphate became more regal, viziers help in administration of empire

Abbasid Troubles  Abbasid family fight one another  Lack of Arab influence in government gives rise to powerful minorities of Persians and Turks  Minorities begin to break away:  750: Umayyad caliphate est in Spain  973: Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt  Abbasid family fight one another  Lack of Arab influence in government gives rise to powerful minorities of Persians and Turks  Minorities begin to break away:  750: Umayyad caliphate est in Spain  973: Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt

Fatimids & Seljuk Turks  From Cairo, Fatimids grow rich and powerful from Nile R. and Red Sea  Create powerful army made up of non-Arabs, mostly Seljuk Turks  Seljuk Turks: nomads from central Asia, Muslims, prospered as soldiers under Abbasids  1000: Seljuk Turks conquer Iran, Armenia and eastern Abbasid land  1055: Turkish sultan takes Baghdad  From Cairo, Fatimids grow rich and powerful from Nile R. and Red Sea  Create powerful army made up of non-Arabs, mostly Seljuk Turks  Seljuk Turks: nomads from central Asia, Muslims, prospered as soldiers under Abbasids  1000: Seljuk Turks conquer Iran, Armenia and eastern Abbasid land  1055: Turkish sultan takes Baghdad

Turkish Power  Abbasid caliph retains religious power, political power now sultan’s  1071: Byzantine Empire challenges Turkish expansion into Anatolia, Turks win battle of Manzikert  Turks take control of entire Anatolian Peninsula, Byzantines look to the West for help  Abbasid caliph retains religious power, political power now sultan’s  1071: Byzantine Empire challenges Turkish expansion into Anatolia, Turks win battle of Manzikert  Turks take control of entire Anatolian Peninsula, Byzantines look to the West for help

The Crusades  Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Catholic Europe for help  Because of mutual distrust and fear between Christian Europe and the Islamic world, many European kings agree to send soldiers in what became known as Crusades  : Crusaders take lands around Christian holy sites, and establish Christian states  Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Catholic Europe for help  Because of mutual distrust and fear between Christian Europe and the Islamic world, many European kings agree to send soldiers in what became known as Crusades  : Crusaders take lands around Christian holy sites, and establish Christian states

Rise of Saladin  New Muslim leader takes control of Egypt, appoints himself sultan, ends Fatimid Dynasty  Takes control of Syria, takes the offensive against Christians  1187: Takes control of Jerusalem away from Christians  Does not massacre population, allows Christian religious services to continue  Crusades accomplish nothing but mistrust between faiths  New Muslim leader takes control of Egypt, appoints himself sultan, ends Fatimid Dynasty  Takes control of Syria, takes the offensive against Christians  1187: Takes control of Jerusalem away from Christians  Does not massacre population, allows Christian religious services to continue  Crusades accomplish nothing but mistrust between faiths

Attack of the Mongols  Mongols: nomads from the Gobi Desert, conquered through brutal warfare meant to creat terror so great people wouldn’t fight back  Under Genghis Khan, Mongol armies conquer China, central Asia  1258: Mongols capture Baghdad, ending Abbasid caliphate, burned the city  Cairo becomes new center for Islamic culture  Mongols: nomads from the Gobi Desert, conquered through brutal warfare meant to creat terror so great people wouldn’t fight back  Under Genghis Khan, Mongol armies conquer China, central Asia  1258: Mongols capture Baghdad, ending Abbasid caliphate, burned the city  Cairo becomes new center for Islamic culture