1. Three Caliphates: `Abbasid, Fatimid, Umayyad Andalus
Carl W. Ernst
Introduction to Islamic Civilization

2. 1. The `Abbasid caliphate (750-1256)
Triumph of Persian cosmopolitan and Imperial tradition over Arab particularism
Only politically effective for a century
Powerful centrifugal forces
Economic network tying things together

3. `Abbasid caliphate – early period
Arab elites replaced by Khorasani guard
Increasing remoteness of regime from citizens, growth of court ceremonial in Persian style
New urban sophistication: hedonistic poetry of Abu Nuwas
Growth of Arabic literature: Thousand and One Nights as popular storytelling

5. Military and economic problems
Troops coming from border areas or beyond: Turks as military slaves (mamluks)
Weakened economy could not sustain military
Rebellion of East African slaves (Zanj) in marshes near Basra

6. Assertion of Regional Autonomy
Provincial independence: Egypt, Persia, Central Asia
rise of New Persian language in Arabic script
Abandonment of Samarra as capital
Iranian Buyid princes (Zaydi Shi`ites from the Caspian) take charge, caliphs as powerless puppets

7. Isma`ili activism Multiple groups in late ninth century:
Carmathians in Bahrain, attack Mecca and steal the Black Stone from Ka`ba ( )
`Abd Allah leaves Syria (902) and founds Fatimid empire in North Africa, claims descent from Ja`far’s son `Abd Allah

8. 2. A second caliphate (Fatimids)
Shi`ite call to prayer, sermon in the name of caliph-imam
Kharijite and `Alid principalities in North Africa overwhelmed
First military campaigns against Egypt ( ) unsuccessful

9. 3. Umayyad caliphate in Córdoba
Conquest of Iberian peninsula except NW (Asturias)
Independent of Baghdad after 740
Umayyad prince `Abd al-Rahman, fleeing `Abbasids, claims throne
Battle of Zaragoza vs. Charlemagne leads to romanticized Song of Roland

11. The Caliphate of Cordoba
Excavated ruins of Madinat az-Zahra, ca. 940

12. Salon Rico

13. Salon Rico, interior

14. Audience hall

15. Mihrab of great mosque

16. Mihrab detail

17. The church in the mosque

18. Mosque interior

19. Crucifix in the mosque today

20. Ethnic groups in al-Andalus
Mozarabe (muta`arrab): Arabized Christians
Sefardic Jews
Muladie (muwallad, “born [here]”): Iberian converts to Islam
Arabs: Syrians, etc.
Berbers
Mudejar (mudajjan, “tamed”): Muslims under Christian rule

21. Umayyad caliphate Andalus ruled by Muslim minority
Arabization of Jews and Christians [Egger overestimates isolation of Andalusian Christians: see Codex biblicus legionensis : Biblia visigótico mozárabe in Wilson Library – Latin Bible with Arabic comments]

22. Economic networks
Indus to Andalus: economy, agriculture, industry, trade, cities
a medieval “Muslim world”
Irrigation based on water wheel (noria) and canal (qanat)

23. Economy Extraordinary textile production
Shift from long distance luxury goods to mass consumption trade
Camels, market in timber and metals
North Europeans unable to use advanced products of Muslims
Silk Road, maritime commerce in western Indian Ocean
Shift from Gulf to Red Sea