Islamic Empires Spiritual, Religious, and Cultural Flowering
Islamic
Empires Spiritual, Religious, and
Cultural Flowering
Let’s Review: Arabian peninsula Origin
Mecca was a pre-Islamic pilgrimage center – the Ka’ba
Muhammad
1st revelations – 610 CE – dictations of the Quran from “Allah”
Five Pillars of Islam:
1. Shahada – profession of faith
2. Salat – prayer 5X day
3. Zakat – alms giving
4. Ramadan - fasting
5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca
6. *Jihad* – “struggle”
1. Great - internal struggle v. Lesser - Only self-defense, warfare/versus
Hijra – Spread/Migration of Islam to Medina (Muhammad)
Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Islam held together M.E world.
Creation of Umma (community of believers)
1st caliph (elected) Abu Bakr (c.632)
Expansion of Dar al-Islam
Singular language of politics, literature , daily life, etc.
Copied Byzantine/Persian Empires
Opulent court life, monumental architecture and a bureaucracy
Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (c.661) moved the capital moved to
Damascus (Syria) Umayyad Caliphate established
Like all Empires-overextension and taxation issues led to Civil War and fall
of Caliphate
Sunni-Shia division (7th Century)
Growth of Umma Much of N. Africa “conquered” by 711
Conversion of Berbers: Semitic N. Africans
Assimilation through intermarriage.
By mid 8th Century- Arab conquest of Spain
732* Battle of Tours – Halts expansion Westward
Charles “the Hammer” Martel
Abbasid Caliphate c. 750–1258
Named for Muhammad’s uncle – Abbas
Caliphs chosen through heredity bloodline of the Prophet
Capital moved to newly built Baghdad
Ruled heterogeneous peoples - Urged non-Muslims to
convert
Nestorian Christians, Jews and others
played a major role in administration/military
Maintained good (polt.) relationships with locals
Rotation of officers to prevent corruption
Regularized/Equalized taxes No “favoritism”
Abbasid Caliphate at its greatest extent, c. 850.
Territories in dark green were lost early on.
Problems Facing Abbasids Recruiting troops (loyalty problems) Similar to Romans
Mamlūk: Slave troops (Turks)
Rulers became increasingly remote / secular Corruption became widespread locally.
Similar to the 3rd Century Crisis in Rome
Stray from Islamic ideals Erosion of core values (equality and simplicity)
Numerous revolts led to a fracturing of the caliphate
Abbasid Clan (N. Iran) – held power in name until 1258.
Caliph executed by grandson of Chinngis Khan
Islamic Achievements:
Philosophy
European Dark Ages = neglect of intellectual
achievements.
Many in the West more concerned with survival at
the start of the Dark Ages.
Christians/W. European scholars are indebted to
Muslims.
Preserved/translated Hellenistic traditions and
other classics
Córdoba (Spain) Center of learning and
equality.
Islamic achievements:
History Ibn Khaldun 1332-1406
Universal (Cyclical) Theory of History:
Differences between people arise principally
from the differences in their occupation
Ibn Battuta (1304 – 69)- Considered one of the greatest
travelers of all time.
Marco Polo of the Muslim world
1. Settlement
2. Culture 3. Content
4. Conquered
Islamic achievements:
Math, Astronomy, and Medicine
Arabic = language of scholarship
“Arabic numerals” - Adapted, Hindi numerals, decimal system, number zero
Algebra (al-jabr) “restoration”
Heliocentric (Copernican) Theory [16th century] - based upon Arab astronomical findings
Cannon of Medicine – Ibn Sina
Herbal remedies, functioning of organs, fevers, surgery
“Cannon of Medicine and Book of Healing” - Influenced medical science for 300 years
Avicenna – Ibn Sina
City Design and Architecture
Baghdad = Largest city in world (outside China)
500,000 people (25 sq miles)
Religious architecture – mosques.
1325 - Mosque of Djenné
1632 - Taj Mahal (India)
(Outside time period)