Feudalism Interregional trade Religion Expansion Diffusion
The First Global Civilization
A. Clans nomadic kinship clans Shayks were leaders of tribes; warriors highly valued lack of unified culture B. Towns & Trade Towns emerged as oases on caravan routes Mecca: wealthy center of trade & religion
Matrilineal Society as nomads Women’s rights depended on clan/tribe Men more valued as warriors Polygamy favored inequality Culture & Religion Strong oral literary tradition polythestic religion Moral and Ethical code provided by tribal custom Kaaba
Muhammad merchant, married to wealthy widow 610 CE- claimed to have visions A. Persecution & Victory Muhammad fled home city of Mecca- Hijra 622 Returned to Mecca- forced monotheism
Arabs & Islam Arab monotheism became conquerors of ME Provided universal ethics, equality, charity Universal Elements- R Monotheistic: Allah Book: Qu’ran Egalitarianism-equality of believers Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Fast, Zakat, Hajj 5 ps: Profession of faith, Prayer, poor, pilgrimage to Mecca, painful fasting- PILLARS
Consolidation & Division- P Muhammad dies(632) CONFLICT!!!- resolved by military under the leadership of Abu Bakr, the new caliph (“king”) Raided and conquered surrounding Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian territories
656 CE Murder of Uthman, 3 rd Caliphate Ali (descendent of Muhammad) reemerged as successor With support of Egypt, Mu’awiya proclaimed succession in 660; Ali, family assassinated Create Sunni- supported the Mu’awiya & Shi’a- supported Ali split Relocated capital to Damascus, Syria; built bureaucracy led by Arab Muslim military aristocracy
conquests from Spain to Central Asia- see map Three Methods of Spread: Military Merchant Missionary Arabic language spreads with Islam Technology diffusion Converts & People of the Book Christians and Jews- okay- people of the book- BUT they were charged a “head tax”
men allowed 4 wives Strengthened rights of women’s inheritance, divorce Syncretism create more isolation for women Umayyad Decline Increasing luxury
Chapter 7
Abbasids by 750 had defeated Caliph Baghdad as Sunni capital Established Wazir, chief administrators, to oversee enormous bureaucracy Islamic Conversion Exempt Muslims from taxes, offered opportunities in schooling, gov’t
Great urban, economic expansion Muslim merchants, used technology (dhow), Slaves served caliphs, officials Countryside dominated by soldiers, merchants
Abbasid Decline Problems of Succession Foreign Influence: Slave Mercenaries, Eunuchs, Concubines & Persian advisors Imperial Extravagance: Monumental building & living = Increasing taxes Social Unrest: Food riots, pillaging, Shi’a rebels
Harem: Wives & Concubines of caliphs restricted areas of palace Slave concubines more freedom than wives as non- Muslim Rich women married at puberty, no career outlets, less education, limited outside contact Low class women needed to support families
Abbasid Loss of Power Mid 10 th Century Independent. Kingdoms broke away; Egypt & Syria 945: Buyids of Persia took Baghdad; took title of sultan 1055: Seljuk Turks, provided strong political authority against Egypt & Byzantine Still ruled in Abbasid name
. Christian Crusades 8 Crusades led by knights of w. Europe; began 1096 to recapture Holy Land Influenced Europe: weapons, buildings, lost Greek learning, Math & Numbers, Rugs & Textiles, Chess, Chivalry and Food Muslims took little from West & removed influence by 1291
Flowering of Islamic Learning Persian Literature- Persian replaced Arabic language for culture Islamic focus on religion, philosophy, legal codes Also building, science, medicine, mathematics Numbers, astronomy, printing, gunpowder from India and China Navigation, Trade Uses
C. Religious Trends strict adherence to Qu’ran promoted by mullas/ulama Sufis: wandering mystics seeking personal connection with Allah; primary source of religious expansion
D. End of the Caliphate 1220s Chinggis Khan & Mongol moved from central Asia through Turko-Persian regions 1258 Baghdad sacked, last Abbassid caliphate executed