1. Islam

2. The Caliph No clear to successor to Muhammad identified
Abu Bakr chosen to lead as Caliph
Led war against villagers who abandoned Islam after death of Muhammad

3. Expansion of Islam Highly successful attacks on Byzantine territory
Difficulties governing rapidly expanding territory

4. The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750ce)
From Meccan merchant class
Capital: Damascus, Syria
Associated with Arab military aristocracy

5. Policy Toward Conquered Peoples
Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent
Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims
Head tax on non-Muslims
Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

6. The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258ce)
Allied non-Arab Muslims
Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia
Defeats Umayyad army in 750
Invited Umayyad to banquet, then massacred them

7. Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty
Diverse nature of administration (ie. Not exclusively Arab)
Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion
Dar al-Islam
Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces

8. Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809ce)
High point of Abbasid dynasty
Baghdad center of commerce
Great cultural activity

9. Abbasid Decline Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid
Provincial governors assert regional independence
Dissenting sects, heretical movements
Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility
Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne

10. Changing Status of Women
Quran improves status of women
Outlawed female infanticide
Brides, not husbands, claim dowries
Yet male dominance preserved
Patrilineal descent
Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden
Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice