Islam Kaaba
Feb 24, 2016
Islam
Kaaba
Islam
Beliefs
Impact on Trade
FoundingEurope
Empire
India
Sects
Southeast Asia
Africa
Becomes Political
Pre-Islamic Arab World
• Bedouins• Camel herding• Agriculture• Clan Identity• Towns • Long-distance trade
– Mecca
Marriage and FamilyPre-Islamic Arabia
• Economic role– Milking camels– Weaving cloth– Raising children
• Rural areas– Matrilineal– Polygamy for both sexes– Man paid dowry
• Not veiled or secluded• Status determined by custom• Urban areas
– Patrilineal– Male polygamy
Founding
• Muhammad • 622 CE• Hijrah—from Makkah
to Medina
Beliefs• Monotheistic• 5 Pillars of Islam
– Alms-Zakat– Fasting– Prayer – Faith-Shahara– Haj
• Jihad—• People of the Book—dhimmi status
Sects
• Shi’ia-bloodline• Sunni-elected • Sufis-mystical
– Whirling Dervishes
Empire Building Umayyad-661-750
• Sunni• Series of alliances bring stability to Islamic
community• Capital—Damascus
– Center of Learning– Exposed to Hellenistic traditions
• Eastward to India and China• Westward to North Africa and Spain• Battle of Tours• Stressed political not religious aspect of office
• Dar-al-Islam—lands ruled by Islam• United lands they ruled
– Arabic official language– Minted Arabic currency– Road building– Postal routes– Civil service– Improved conditions for non-Muslims
• Opposition from religious and political groups—Abbasids most powerful one
Abbasids750-1258
• Capital Baghdad– Center of banking,
commerce, crafts• Caliph Harun al-
Rashid--high point • Battle of Talas River
ends Tang spread• 1258-Mongol assault
• Ulama —learned official with religious knowledge
• Qadis -judges set moral standards and resolved disputes
• Relied on Persian techniques of administration
Abbasid Administration
TradeOverland
• Trade cities brought under Islamic control
• Silk Routes• Maintenance of
roads for military and administration
• Camels and caravansaries
Maritime • Mediterranean and Indian Ocean
Routes• Compass-China• Lateen Sail-Southeast Asia and India• Astrolabe-Hellenistic mariners
Impact on Trade1300’s
Women
• Muhammad’s wife a wealthy widow• Women’s rights• Contact with Syria and Persia• Veiling
Cultural Influences
Persian• Administration• Al Ghazzali -denounced Greek philosophers• Language-literature, poetry
– Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Greek• Philosophy
Arab• Ibn Sina [Avicenna]• Al Razi
Europe
• Spain—Moors• 732 • Battle of Tours
TurksSeljuks 11th-14th century
• Steppe people• Hired by weak Abbasid rulers to fight in
army• 1000 moved from central Asia into Middle
East• Restored Sunni caliphate• Gained control of main trade routes• Used wealth to build an empire• Defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert
1071• Conquest of Palestine led Pope Urban II to
call for first crusade