1. ABBASID EMPIRE
Advanced Learning
Decline

2. UMAYYAD REVIEW powerful Arab clan from the time of Muhammad’s life
won Ridda Wars to dominate Arabia - economic motives
mawali - did not have advantages
dhimmi - tolerance, but taxes
capital at Damascus
greater equality for women

3. ABBASID REVIEW moved capital to Baghdad mawali accepted, advantages
wazir administrative leader (Persian)
urban, less rights for women (veil, harem)
dhow boats, greater global trade
adopted Indian math, Chinese invensions
sponsorship of mosques, libraries
built on Greek and Roman learning

4. LIST ADVANCEMENTS Persian literature Persian poetry (Sa’di) algebra,
Bayt al-Hakma
House of Wisdom
Persian literature
Persian poetry (Sa’di)
algebra,
geometry, trigonometry
hospitals (Egypt)
optics - eyes
papermaking
silk-weaving
ceramics
map making

5. Muslim influence on math, learning

6. CONSIDER DECLINE 1) rivalry with Shi’a / peasant revolts
2) excessive luxury
3) problem of succession
4) new, rival groups

7. DECLINE - FIRST CAUSE rivalry with Shi’a peasant revolts
quickly discarded after help overthrowing Umayyad
constantly agitating against Sunni majority
had to pay for fighting and palace excesses
government projects like irrigation fell apart

8. DECLINE - SECOND CAUSE Excessive luxury
4th caliph - Harun al-Rashid’s 1001 Nights
gave Charlemagne elephant and water clock
palace - harem, excessive slaves to do work

9. 1001 Arabian nights all women are bad, king’s wife cheats
“king” in bed with virgins, kills them the next morning..
no more virgins, vizier forced to offer his daughter...
she starts new story every night….

10. DECLINE - THIRD CAUSE Problem of succession 3rd caliph’s son poisoned
future sons build personal armies for protection
leaders of slave army became more
powerful than caliph

11. DECLINE - FOURTH CAUSE New, rival groups Buyids of Persia - 900’s
Seljuk Turks
Mongols ’s
Christian Crusades