1. The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam
&
Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islamic Civilization to South and Southeast Asia
Stearns 6 and 7

2. Geography Matters Desert Scattered Oases Clanish Bedouin
Camel and goat herding
Scattered Oases
Areas of commerce and agriculture
Tradition of long-distance trade

3. Clans, Identities, Rivalries
Desert-living promotes group dependence
Conflict over water and pastures

4. Culture Majority polytheistic; small Jewish populations
Less patriarchal
Women had economic roles in clan life
Descent traced through female line
Men paid a “bride-price” to wife’s family
Both genders could have multiple spouses
Women not shrouded in veils
BUT men still considered superior, especially in cities
Poetry

5. Muhammad and Islam 6th Century C.E.
Orphaned, raised in a merchant family
Widely travelled; introduced to monotheism
610 C.E. first revelation from Gabriel
Revelations collected in the Qur’an

6. Islamic Triumph Initial oppression by Quraysh Mecca v. Medina
629 C.E. conquest of Mecca

7. Islam’s Consequences End of clan conflicts New missionary zeal
Problem of succession

8. Umayyad Empire Ethnically Arab Governed by warrior elite
Establishment of the Caliph
Seeds of Sunni-Shi’a Split
Rapid expansion
Mesopotamia, North Africa, Persia
Later Spain, France, Northwestern India
Unable to topple Byzantines
Economic motives as important as religious motives
Desire to conquer for booty
Need to limit converts to secure taxes and shares in booty
Role of the Dhimmi (“People of the Book”)

9. Sunni-Shi’a Split Succession struggle
Third Caliph, Uthman, murdered
Ali wins caliphate but rejected by Umayyads
Umayyads promote Mu’awiya; assassinate Ali
Shi’a recognize only Ali’s line for caliphate

10. New Family and Gender Roles
Initial improvement for women
Conquered areas had been strictly patriarchal
Muhammad promoted equality before Allah
Adultery denounced
Female infanticide outlawed
Men had to treat all wives (up to four) equally
Women had legal rights in inheritance and divorce
But patriarchal cultures of conquered people prevails
These mores not to be confused with Islamic belief

11. Umayyad Decline Expansion creates new tensions
Unequal distribution of booty
Fear that luxury and conquest at the expense of Islamic principles
Men in provinces develop regional loyalties
Abbasid clan revolts, 750.
Allies with Shi’a; assassinate most Umayyad leaders

12. Abbasid Empire Less “Arab” identity (so many regional identities)
Capital moved to Baghdad
Elevation of Persian ruling concepts
Bureaucratic expansion
Persian influence
Power of wazir
Absolutism
Actual office of royal executioner!
Turned against Shi’a allies; support less tolerant Sunni
Enjoyed luxurious living

13. New Islam No more distinction between Mawali and older believers
Most conversions peaceful
New artistic expression
Mosque and palace construction
Islamic scholarship alongside mathematics and science
Sufism
Ulama—will ultimately stifle mathematic and scientific achievements

14. Abbasid Economy Preeminence of merchant and landlord classes
Goods traded from South China Sea to the Western Mediterranean
Urban expansion
Artisan handicraft
Tapestries
Rugs
Ceramics
Bronzes
Glass
Tenant farming
Slavery

15. Scientific Achievements
Chemistry
created the objective experiment
Classification of material substances
Animal
Vegetable
Mineral
Mathematics: built on Greek theories
Astrolabe
Medicine
Paper-making (from China)

16. Abbasid Decline Begins in 9th century Overly luxurious living
The Thousand and One Nights
Caliphs depend on Persian advisors
Persian becomes the court language and literary preference; Arabic for religion, law, and natural sciences
Weaker caliphs
More court intrigue
Peasant revolts
Slave armies
Increased tax burdens
Abandonment of agricultural villages
Failure to reconcile with moderate Shi’a
Succession disputes

17. Women’s Social Decline
Myth of women’s incurable lust
Leads to jealousy
Need to cloister them
Harem and veil symbolize this
Poor women were more active—had to be

18. No-Good Nomads Persian Buyids capture Baghdad, 945
Caliphs controlled by sultans
Seljuk Turks defeat Buyids, 1055
Push Byzantines out of Anatolia
Purge Shi’a
Mongols sack Baghdad, 1258—end Abbasid

19. Crusades Causes Effects Political Religious Cultural For Europeans
For Muslims

20. Hinduism v. Islam Hinduism Islam Open Tolerant Inclusive polytheism
Social division by caste
Islam
Doctrinaire
Monotheistic
Evangelical
Egalitarian

21. Muslims invade India Umayyad conquered first Treat Hindus as Dhimmi
Many Hindus welcome Muslim conquerors
Lower taxes
Not much effort to convert; tolerant
Missionary activity by traders and Sufis
Appeal to low and outcaste Hindus
Many Buddhist converts
Mosques become centers of learning and regional political power
Hindu revival and backlash
Brahmins denounce Muslims for destroying temples
Use of the Race Card

22. India’s Influence
India influenced Islam more than Islam influenced India
Mathematics (numbers)
Science and astronomy
Medicine
Music
Foods, hierarchies, and attitudes toward women

23. Islam in Southeast Asia
Spread peacefully through trading contacts
More influenced by Sufi
More mystical
Better positions for women