Chapter 7 Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia

Islamic Heartlands Court conditions: Court conditions: Shi’i revolts, assassinationsShi’i revolts, assassinations LuxuriesLuxuries Wives, concubines, courtiersWives, concubines, courtiers Succession???Succession??? Harun al-Rashid Harun al-Rashid Thousand and One Arabian NightsThousand and One Arabian Nights Dependent on advisors (Persian)Dependent on advisors (Persian) Death → civil wars, need for personal armiesDeath → civil wars, need for personal armies Slave mercenary armies (caused more problems)Slave mercenary armies (caused more problems)

Internal problems Constant civil violence (costs $$) Constant civil violence (costs $$) Peasants heavily taxed Peasants heavily taxed Villages destroyed/abandoned Villages destroyed/abandoned Shi’i also caused problems Shi’i also caused problems

Women Harem and veil Harem and veil Concubines/slaves Concubines/slaves Slaves from surrounding regions Slaves from surrounding regions Prized for beauty and intelligencePrized for beauty and intelligence Very educatedVery educated Leaders spend more time with themLeaders spend more time with them Slave and lower-class women – usually had more freedomSlave and lower-class women – usually had more freedom Upper-class had “behind the scenes” power Upper-class had “behind the scenes” power

Nomadic problems Buyids (Persian Shi’i) Buyids (Persian Shi’i) Invaded and captured BaghdadInvaded and captured Baghdad Caliphs were “puppet rulers”Caliphs were “puppet rulers” “sultans”“sultans” Seljuk Turks (Sunnis) Seljuk Turks (Sunnis) Purged Shi’i influencePurged Shi’i influence Good militaryGood military Opens way for Ottomans laterOpens way for Ottomans later Mongols later end the Abbasids Mongols later end the Abbasids

Impact of Crusades Seljuks not unified, surprised so 1 st Crusade was Christian success Seljuks not unified, surprised so 1 st Crusade was Christian success Eventually Muslims unite under Saladin, reconquer area Eventually Muslims unite under Saladin, reconquer area Little impact on Muslims Little impact on Muslims Much impact on Christians Much impact on Christians Technology, weapons, science, medicine, regained Greek learning, textilesTechnology, weapons, science, medicine, regained Greek learning, textiles Exchange was mostly one-way Exchange was mostly one-way

Culture Culture Expansion of trade and professional classes Expansion of trade and professional classes Urban prosperity (artisans) Urban prosperity (artisans) Literature-Persian Literature-Persian Science-math, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, maps (practical things) Science-math, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, maps (practical things) Religious trends: orthodox/Sufis Religious trends: orthodox/Sufis

Islam in South Asia Carried by invaders/traders/Sufis/etc Carried by invaders/traders/Sufis/etc Earlier migrants to India had been absorbed into culture-Muslims didn’t Earlier migrants to India had been absorbed into culture-Muslims didn’t Muslim civ. = Indian civ. Muslim civ. = Indian civ. Much interaction, both peaceful and violent Much interaction, both peaceful and violent Harsha (north India) Harsha (north India) Forged alliances, united central and eastForged alliances, united central and east Period of peace and prosperityPeriod of peace and prosperity Dies without successorDies without successor

Muslim invasions Political divisions result Political divisions result First wave (711) First wave (711) Muslim traders vs. pirates Muslim traders vs. pirates Muhammad ibn Qasim- Umayyad Muhammad ibn Qasim- Umayyad Little change for people – most did not convert (no reason to) Little change for people – most did not convert (no reason to) Exchange of info (esp. science/math) Exchange of info (esp. science/math)

Second wave Turkish slave dynasty (Mahmud of Ghazni)- 200 yrs. raiding in N. India Turkish slave dynasty (Mahmud of Ghazni)- 200 yrs. raiding in N. India Muhammad of Ghur-capital at Delhi Muhammad of Ghur-capital at Delhi Controlled Indus valley and N. India Controlled Indus valley and N. India Next 300 yrs-succession of Muslim dynasties reign (sultans of Delhi) Next 300 yrs-succession of Muslim dynasties reign (sultans of Delhi) Based on military machines Based on military machines

Patterns of conversion/accommodation Most conversions-peaceful Most conversions-peaceful Merchants/traders!!!!!! Merchants/traders!!!!!! Sufi mystics Sufi mystics Most from lower castes Most from lower castes Buddhism declines Buddhism declines Hindus took gov’t positions Hindus took gov’t positions Muslims adopted some Hindu ideas Muslims adopted some Hindu ideas “bad” for women “bad” for women

Hindu revival Response to Muslims Response to Muslims More emphasis on devotional cults(bhakti) More emphasis on devotional cults(bhakti) Open to all (women/untouchables) Open to all (women/untouchables) Stressed strong emotional bond to gods Stressed strong emotional bond to gods Proves adaptability Proves adaptability

Results Brahmans vs. ulama Brahmans vs. ulama Large Muslim community on Indian subcontinent Large Muslim community on Indian subcontinent Hindus still majority Hindus still majority Hindus still thought Muslims would be absorbed (NOT!) Hindus still thought Muslims would be absorbed (NOT!)

SE Asia Carried by traders/Sufi mystics Carried by traders/Sufi mystics Shrivijaya collapses, opening for Muslims Shrivijaya collapses, opening for Muslims Peaceful and voluntary conversions Peaceful and voluntary conversions Trade was key Trade was key Malacca Malacca Conversion helped business Conversion helped business Sufis adapted Islam to fit areas Sufis adapted Islam to fit areas Women stronger position Women stronger position

In Depth World religions –broad and flexible World religions –broad and flexible Islam-peaceful converts, adopted, flexible Islam-peaceful converts, adopted, flexible Accommodated diverse aspects Accommodated diverse aspects