4 developments define postclassical centuries 1. Islamic civilization spread politically and culturally into Asia, Europe and Africa 2. Civilizations expanded into new world regions 3. The great world religions gained adherent from peoples once following local belief structures 4. The creation of a world network linking many of the individual civilizations

Chapter 6, 7, & 8 Political

Difference between the terms Arab and Islam ◦ They do not mean the same thing 1 st Global Civilization ◦ What do you think this means???  Very unique development of an empire that expanded throughout the known world.  Centralization as well as a unifying factor of Religion  Spread very fast

In the beginning Arab Peninsula ◦ Bedouin Societies  Nomadic  Herders ◦ Trade routs ◦ Clan/family ties Video

Clan Life A way to survive in a VERY harsh environment ◦ Subsistence living  Water  constant struggle ◦ Kin related. So Families made up the Clan ◦ Survival depended on cooperation, support and loyalty. ◦ If you were kicked out of your clan you would most likely DIE

Tribes Clans were smaller family groups Larger Tribal groups would come together in times of hardship and war ◦ They usually didn’t get along Tribe Family Clan

Just a word on Culture Clans would feud with each other ◦ Could last for hundreds of years Revenge is a major part of the culture Culture of Violence ◦ In order to survive you must win

Power Organization Unlike prehistory nomads, there is a great variation of wealth and power ◦ Even within the clan Shaykhs Warriors (and their families) Slave families

This way of political life begins to change with Mohammad ◦ He brings the clans together under one unifying thing  Islam  Not easy or done quickly  Most believe in the 5 pillars  Where they diverge is in who should lead

The Life of Muhammad “The hardships of Muhammad’s early life underscores the importance of Clan ties in the Arabian world” Muhammad ◦ Born into a prominent clan of the Quraysh Tribe ◦ Educated with the clan to be a merchant  During his caravan travels he met Christians and Jews ◦ He was aware of the Monotheistic traditions developing ◦ c. 610 He started receiving messages from Allah through the angel Gabriel

Muhammad as a Political Leader Muhammad settled disputes in Medina making it a stronger community Umayyad didn’t like this because it threatened their trade They attack Muhammad and his followers After victory Muhammad was able to travel back to Mecca to the Kaa’ba Proved to be strong both as a man and a religion

Something to bring us together Islam gave a common identity to the Arab world ◦ Umma  community of Faithful  This would rise above old tribal and clan boundaries The Qur’an and Muhammad’s teachings would be incorporated into laws ISLAM Tribe Clans Tribe Clans Tribe Clans Tribe Clans

BUT... After Muhammad’s death many of the tribes renounced the faith and tried to return to old ways ◦ The split ◦ New leaders needed to be found and then they had to force those who left to return  This was a more Arab empire in the beginning

Issue of Succession After Muhammad’s death: ◦ They had to decide on a Caliph to be the political and religion successor 1 st Four Caliph 1.Abu Bakr  Expansion by the armies begin 2.Omar  Captures Jerusalem 3.Othman  Captures N. Africa, Turkey, Afghanistan 4.Ali  Conflict between Sunni and Shia

The Split Shi’a: The successor should be a member of Muhammad’s family Sunni: The successor should be the strongest ◦ Umayyads

Umayyad Dynasty Mu’awiya ◦ Opponent of Ali ◦ Beginning of the Umayyad Line ◦ Moved the capital to Damascus Arab conquest that began during the search for a successor continued ◦ They wanted booty: that means riches Didn’t worry so much about conversion ◦ Have to share the booty ◦ Dhimmi: people of the book Damascus becomes the political center

Umayyad decline They began to move away from the simple, frugal life that Muhammad taught ◦ Were very centered around family ties and nothing else Abbasids began to grow angry and wanted power ◦ Used the Mawali (non Arab Muslims) and Shi’a to help them gain the power ◦ Come to dinner ◦ Reject those that helped them after they took power

The Abbasids Moved the Capital from Damascus to Baghdad Created a very large Bureaucracy ◦ Headed by the Vizier

Who are the Abbasids 3 rd Abbasid Caliph was al Mahdi ◦ Major love of luxury which caused a lot of corruption ◦ Failed to fix the whole succession problem  Son assassinated Most Famous Abbasid Caliph was Harun al-Rashid ◦ 1000 and 1 Nights ◦ Depended on Persian advisors  How does this cause problems later on

Death of al Rashid 1 st civil war over succession ◦ End of the real power of the Caliph ◦ Caliph felt they needed personal guards  Turks  became the power center  Personal armies (70,000)  Started killing the Caliph they were supposed to protect All this fighting took a lot of money ◦ Ran out ◦ General destruction everywhere

Slow decline Splinter dynasties created own kingdoms and began to fight for power Buyids of Persia take Baghdad in 945 ◦ Shi’a ◦ Buyids were the Sultan  These were the true rulers and the Caliph was just a figure head Seljuk Turks defeat the Buyids in 1055 ◦ Purged the Shi’a during this time

What impact did the Crusades have on the Islamic empire? The Muslims were not as affected as the Christians culturally by the crusades The Muslims received Greek learning that was recovered by the Christians Christians took over small kingdoms temporarily, but Muslims under Saladin reclaimed them Muslims developed a more negative view of the Christians Europeans borrowed ideas from the Muslims Italian merchants stayed after crusades diffusing the Arabian economic system First crusades was most successful due to elements of surprise and lack of political unity Much of the holy land was captured and divided into Christian kingdoms ◦ It will change back and forth

Islam in Asia As stated earlier people who made their way into India stayed and were assimilated ◦ Due to the flexibility of Indian Culture Muslims enter ◦ First time Indians met with a civilization as sophisticated as their own ◦ Due to trade

Africa

Africa Really large and spread-out ◦ Causes a lot of diversity ◦ Some places were considered “states” and others were not

Stateless Societies Organized around kinship or other forms of obligation Lack the concentration of political power and authority Can grow very large ◦ Usually ruled by counsel or family group  There was little concentration of authority

Difficulties Resist external pressures Mobilize for warfare Organize large building projects Create stable conditions for long distance trade Why was this so difficult?????

Common Elements Even though they were so diverse there were some commonalities ◦ Linguistic Base  Bantu  Understanding ◦ Animism  Nature, animals, magic

Nubia and Ethiopia

Ghana

Mali

Songhay

Central African States

Swahili States