The Rise of Islam CE

Middle East, ca. 600 A.D.

Pre Islamic Arabia n Caravan Culture – Trade central to economy n Tribal organization -- alliances and client states n Pilgrimage to Mecca essential to economic and political success of leading tribes (Quraysh). n Violent, warrior states based on vendetta culture n ghazu (raids) on caravans Harsh ethic of desert warfare, extermination of enemies = no mercy Patriarchal: women veiled & segregated, no property, female infanticide, child marriage

Origins of Islam n Arabian Peninsula Before Muhammad n Beginning of His Ministry n Muhammad in Mecca n The Hijra n Umma: community of believers

Cultural influences on Islam n Persia –Adminstration and governance –literature n India –Mathematics, science, medicine “Hindi” numbers n Greece –Philosophy, esp. Aristotle –Greek medicine

The Quran n Record of revelations received during visions n Committed to writing c. 650 CE, compiled (Muhammad dies 632) –Under the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan n Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith

Five Pillars n Confession of faith n Prayer 5 times a day n Charity to the needy n Fasting during the month-long Ramadan n Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during one’s lifetime

The Ka’aba in Mecca

Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount Jerusalem

Early Problems n Succession –Mohammed had no surviving male children n generated a permanent split in the Islamic community –Sunnis –Shi’as

Who will be Mohammed’s successor? The Caliph debate Abu Bakr M uhammad 's father-in law and close friend Ali Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law Supported by Sunni Muslims Supported by Shi’a Muslims The “schism” or divide happened during the First Islamic Civil War 656–661 CE

Sunnis n considered themselves the “orthodox” followers of Mohammed n “ Sunni” : from an Arabic word – “usage” or “custom” –implies: “precedent” n consider the Shi’as to be “dissenters” n issue: who leads after Mohammed ?? n the Caliph (or “leader”) n went successively to followers -Abu Bakr, then Oman, then Uthman

The Shia: (word means: “party”, “faction”, “following”) n Disagreements over selection of caliphs n Ali passed over for Abu Bakr n Served as caliph CE, then assassinated along with most of his followers n Remaining followers organize separate party called “Shia” n accepted Ali

Abu Bakr n not particularly popular with the Muslim community n allowed raid, then invasions of Byzantine and Persian territory n subjugated any dissident elements or tribes n disposed of any “new prophets”

Perceptions n Sunni: conservative, in favor of the “status quo” –consensus is the guiding principle n Shi’as: defenders of the oppressed, critics of privilege and power –obedience is required only as long as it can be forced, and no longer

Umayyeds n successful in the war n Ali assassinated in 661 A.D. –by the Kharijites n beginning of the Umayyed dynasty n Atlantic Ocean to India n Syria: center of the Islamic World n eventually displaced by the Abbasids –an Arab family claiming decent from Mohammed

The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Success = strain n success introduced luxury and change –From original caliphs to the Umayyad caliphs n new ideas and new ethnic groups –with their own customs and heritage, to try to assimilate n rise of a sort of “revivalist element” –Islam had strayed from its original path and purity –Muslims were being led back to paganism –caliphs were becoming idle, corrupt, tyrants Photo on right: Ummayad Mosque in Damascus

Policy toward Conquered Peoples n Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent n Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims n Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims n Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

The Abbasid Dynasty ( CE) n Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims n Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia n Defeats Umayyad army in 750 –Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them –Only Spain remains Umayyad –North Africa is disputed territory, ultimately Fatamid Mosque of Abu Abbas al-Mursi in Alexandria

Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty n Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab) n Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion n Dar al-Islam n Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces

Victories n Syria: 635 A.D. n Palestine: 636 A.D. n Persia: captured in one battle –expansion into India –expansion to the borders of China n Egypt: help by local Christians n North Africa: the Berbers

Expansion, con’t n Spain A.D. n Battle of Tours: October 732 A.D. –Charles Martel n Siege of Constantinople: A.D. –Leo III –Greek fire n beginnings of Christian reconquest of former Roman/Christian territory

Abbasid Decline n Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid n Provincial governors assert regional independence n Dissenting sects, heretical movements n Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility n Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne n Crusades

Imperial Breakdown n Problems with rural population n Declining position of women n Nomadic Incursion n Impact of Christian Crusades

The Great Muslim Empires n Ottoman ( )based in Annatolia n Mughal ( ) based in South Asia n Safavid ( ) based in Persian plateau

Ottoman Empire

Safavid Empire

Mughal Empire

Reasons for success n exhaustion of Rome and Persia –End of a 400 year war n nationalist sentiments in Egypt and Syria n arguments among Christian factions n speed and size of Moslem armies n simplicity and uncomplicated nature of Islam n acceptance of the Old and New Testament –People of the Book

Consequences of Expansion n loss of the oldest and most central lands of Christendom n aided the ascendancy of the bishop of Rome n virtual collapse of Zoroastrianism as a major religion n radically altered the balance of power between the Roman Empire and the East n disruption of the Mediterranean economic community

Islamic Civilization n Law and Dogma –Shari’a: Codification of Islamic law –Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools of analysis –Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of human activity –This is the basis the idea of an “Islamic republic” for instance n Converts and Cities –No central authority –Medicine and Astronomy A depiction of a Medieval Islamic astronomer. Thought by some to represent Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi.

Islam, Women, and Slaves n Qu’ran improves status of women –Outlawed female infanticide –Brides, not husbands, claim dowries –Rights under Islamic law n Yet male dominance preserved –Patrilineal descent –Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden –Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice n Slavery

Re-centering of Islam n No religious center n Madrasses n Sufi brotherhoods –Asceticism, mysticism –Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians –Wide popularity

Cultural Importance of Islam n Development of these received influences n Distribution throughout the Muslim world n Introduction and reintroduction of these ideas to medieval Europe –Through Spain –Spanish Jews

Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement n Persian Literature n Scientific Achievements n Sufi Mystics n Mongol invasion

Islamic Art and Architecture n Found all over the world n Influenced from other classical traditions n Expression of divine presence n Both secular and religious n Major practices: –Metalwork –Pottery –Painting –Calligraphy –rugs

Islam in India n Challenge to Hinduism n Political Divisions and first wave of Muslim invasions n Indian Influences on Islam n Second wave of Muslim invasions n Patterns of Conversion n Patterns of Accommodation n Islamic Challenge and Hindu Revival n End of the Sultanate

Spread of Islam to SE Asia n Trading Contacts and Conversion n Sufi Mystics and the Nature of SE Asian Islam