2. Literature of the Middle East and Africa Unit Four: ad300-1900

3. Mysticism, Morals, and Magic Part 1: Persian and Arabic Literature

4. Pre-Islamic Persia: 1000BC-AD642 Aryan Nomads Aryan Nomads C.1000BC: Settle in Persia (Iran) C.1000BC: Settle in Persia (Iran) 600BC: 1200 years of Zoroastrianism 600BC: 1200 years of Zoroastrianism Morality = good vs. evil divinities Morality = good vs. evil divinities Military Power Military Power 550BC: Cyrus the Great= merciful leader 550BC: Cyrus the Great= merciful leader Creation of roads, coinage, promotion of trade. Creation of roads, coinage, promotion of trade. 490BC: Battle of Marathon: defeated by Greeks 490BC: Battle of Marathon: defeated by Greeks 331BC: Alexander the Great conquers Persia 331BC: Alexander the Great conquers Persia 224BC: Native Persians gain control once again 224BC: Native Persians gain control once again

5. Cyrus the Great 590-530BC Achaemenid Dynasty Achaemenid Dynasty United a Kingdom United a Kingdom First given the suffix “Great” First given the suffix “Great” Merciful leader Merciful leader Tomyrus (Queen of the Massagetae): Lead a battle which ultimately killed Cyrus. Tomyrus (Queen of the Massagetae): Lead a battle which ultimately killed Cyrus. Had his head dipped in blood to avenge her son’s death. Had his head dipped in blood to avenge her son’s death. Buried in Pasargadae, Iran. Buried in Pasargadae, Iran.

7. “The Accursed Alexander” BC356-323 Crowned: BC336 Crowned: BC336 Tutored by Aristotle Tutored by Aristotle Huge expansion of Macedonian Empire Huge expansion of Macedonian Empire Integrated conquered regions into Macedonian culture Integrated conquered regions into Macedonian culture Death: Probably disease of some sort Death: Probably disease of some sort

8. Arabs and the Rise of Islam AD 570-1258 Early 600s: Arabic tradition prominent Early 600s: Arabic tradition prominent Decedents of Abraham Decedents of Abraham Farmer and traders Farmer and traders Creation of towns: oasis’ and watering holes = MECCA (Muhammad’s birthplace) Creation of towns: oasis’ and watering holes = MECCA (Muhammad’s birthplace) Muhammad = Prophet who spread the new Islamic faith Muhammad = Prophet who spread the new Islamic faith By 640: Most of Arabia and Persia had converted to the Islamic belief. By 640: Most of Arabia and Persia had converted to the Islamic belief. 1200: Islamic empire had reached it’s greatest expansion 1200: Islamic empire had reached it’s greatest expansion 1258: The rise of independent Muslim city-states. 1258: The rise of independent Muslim city-states.

9. Mohammad the Prophet AD 570-632 Founder of Islam or “Restorer of the monotheistic religion” Founder of Islam or “Restorer of the monotheistic religion” United Arabian tribes with Medina as its capital United Arabian tribes with Medina as its capital Religious revelations imparted to him through visions of Gabriel Religious revelations imparted to him through visions of Gabriel Koran describes how one should lead his life as Muhammad did. Koran describes how one should lead his life as Muhammad did.

10. A Persian Rebirth AD 819-1502 Samanids gain power in Eastern part of the Islamic Empire Samanids gain power in Eastern part of the Islamic Empire Major city: Bukhara = rival to Baghdad as a center of learning Major city: Bukhara = rival to Baghdad as a center of learning 945: Persians gain control of Baghdad 945: Persians gain control of Baghdad 1055: Turks take over but continue to allow Persians some power. 1055: Turks take over but continue to allow Persians some power. Turks remained in power until 1502. Turks remained in power until 1502.

11. People and Society

12. Nomads Nomad = Wanderer Nomad = Wanderer Desert Nomads: Ancestors were the Bedouins. Desert Nomads: Ancestors were the Bedouins. Tribes  Clans Tribes  Clans Excellent Warriors and survivors. Excellent Warriors and survivors.

13. The Ruling Class Theocracy = Government lead by Religious authority Theocracy = Government lead by Religious authority 10 th Century: Political power shifts to military dictators = emirs, sultans, or shahs 10 th Century: Political power shifts to military dictators = emirs, sultans, or shahs Usually supported arts and learning Usually supported arts and learning

14. The Lower Class Mohammads plight helped the poor Mohammads plight helped the poor Under Islam, the poor lived a better life Under Islam, the poor lived a better life Islam: stressed charity and the freeing of slaves Islam: stressed charity and the freeing of slaves Welcomed conquered peoples into Muslim society Welcomed conquered peoples into Muslim society Converter paid high tax and nonbelievers paid even more Converter paid high tax and nonbelievers paid even more

15. Merchants and Traders Many people grew wealthy as merchants and traders Many people grew wealthy as merchants and traders Sold goods at “Bazaars” Sold goods at “Bazaars” On major trade routes = increased commerce and the trading of ideas with those from other cultures On major trade routes = increased commerce and the trading of ideas with those from other cultures

16. The Learned Class Scholars, Scientists, Writers, and Artists. Scholars, Scientists, Writers, and Artists. Sponsored by powerful rulers Sponsored by powerful rulers Rulers believed that science and art were an important part of their legacy Rulers believed that science and art were an important part of their legacy

17. Mystics Dervish = mystic monk Dervish = mystic monk Lived in schools or communities not unlike monasteries Lived in schools or communities not unlike monasteries Fakir = traveling dervish Fakir = traveling dervish Lived by begging Lived by begging

18. Women Improved under Islam Improved under Islam Given some rights regarding: Given some rights regarding: Marriage Marriage Family Family Property Property Equal to men in the eyes of Allah Equal to men in the eyes of Allah

19. Arts and Culture

20. Islamic Architecture Famous for it’s amazing architecture Famous for it’s amazing architecture Temple = Mosque Temple = Mosque Arched walkways decorated with arabesque patterns Arched walkways decorated with arabesque patterns Minaret = Tower which the Muezzin used to call out the times for prayer. Minaret = Tower which the Muezzin used to call out the times for prayer.

21. Dome of the Rock

22. “Dome of the Rock” Jerusalem Domed roofMinaret

23. Mecca Mosque

24. Arabesque Carving

25. Scholarship and Science Muhammad emphasized learning Muhammad emphasized learning As Islamic empire expanded so did learning As Islamic empire expanded so did learning Asia flourished as centers for learning Asia flourished as centers for learning Religion, Philosophy, Law, and Arabic grammar Religion, Philosophy, Law, and Arabic grammar

26. Literature Pre-Islam = oral tradition Pre-Islam = oral tradition Post-Islam = traditions put into writing Post-Islam = traditions put into writing C.653: The writing of the Koran C.653: The writing of the Koran 8 th Century: Golden Age of Literature = non-fiction: history, philosophy, science, and biography. 8 th Century: Golden Age of Literature = non-fiction: history, philosophy, science, and biography.

27. Persian Literature Pre-Islam = great works of literature, ie. “Avesta.” Pre-Islam = great works of literature, ie. “Avesta.” Islam into power = all literature in Arabic Islam into power = all literature in Arabic 9 th c.: Samanids come into power, literature written in Persian once again 9 th c.: Samanids come into power, literature written in Persian once again Sufism: the blending of “the Persian poetic tradition with the mystical brand of Islam” Sufism: the blending of “the Persian poetic tradition with the mystical brand of Islam”

28. Decorative Art Mainly abstract art Mainly abstract art Belief that only Allah could create life, therefore one should not create images of living creatures. Belief that only Allah could create life, therefore one should not create images of living creatures. Arabesque: symmetrical pattern used to decorate everything from buildings to dishes. Arabesque: symmetrical pattern used to decorate everything from buildings to dishes. Non-abstract art: Persian miniatures depicting animals and people in urban scenes. Non-abstract art: Persian miniatures depicting animals and people in urban scenes.