Arab Empire: The Umayyad Caliphate Lesson 1

Main Ideas: Disputes over the succession of Muhammad threatened to rip apart the faithDisputes over the succession of Muhammad threatened to rip apart the faith The Umayyad caliphs used the newly- found Arab unity created by Islam to expand and overcome weaker neighboring empiresThe Umayyad caliphs used the newly- found Arab unity created by Islam to expand and overcome weaker neighboring empires Treatment of non-Arab Muslims led to the downfall of the Umayyad CaliphateTreatment of non-Arab Muslims led to the downfall of the Umayyad Caliphate

Rise of the Caliphate Succession crisisSuccession crisis – likely candidates – Reign of Abu Bakr Caliph: political & religious successor to MuhammadCaliph: political & religious successor to Muhammad – implications

Forging an Empire Early raidsEarly raidsEarly raidsEarly raids Motivations to conquerMotivations to conquer – vengeance for manipulation of neighbors – redirect aggression – treasure & Muslim law What about conversion…? What about conversion…?

Forging an Empire Reasons for successReasons for success – underestimated by Persians & Byzantines – help from frontier Arab tribes & Christian sects – empires already in decline by 650

The Sunni-Shi’Ite Split Divisions in Arab ranksDivisions in Arab ranks Murder of Uthman & rise of AliMurder of Uthman & rise of Ali Assassination of Ali & the splitAssassination of Ali & the split – Sunni: supporters of Umayyads – Shi’ites: supporters of Ali Battle of Karbala & death of HusaynBattle of Karbala & death of Husayn – Umayyads control caliphate

The Umayyad Caliphate Capital shifts to DamascusCapital shifts to Damascus Expansion in the MediterraneanExpansion in the Mediterranean Social DistinctionsSocial Distinctions – Arabs & the share of conquest – Mawali & exclusion – Dhimmi & the jizya Rigid restriction of intermarriageRigid restriction of intermarriage

Decline & Fall of the Umayyads Decadence & regionalism in the militaryDecadence & regionalism in the military The Abbasids & alliance with the mawali & Shi’itesThe Abbasids & alliance with the mawali & Shi’ites Fate of the UmayyadsFate of the Umayyads Córdoba & Al- AndalusCórdoba & Al- Andalus

The Umayyad Caliphate,