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THE MIDDLE AGES IN AFRICA AND ASIA600-1450

Unit 4B

Origins, Central Ideas, and Spread of Islam

Muhammad-Born in or about 570-considered the founder of Islam

Muslims-Those who worship Allah and recognize Muhammad as the final prophet

Mecca-The Holy City of the Islamic faithAllah-Monotheistic deity-also recognized as

the God of Abraham and the Jewish people (and Christians)

Origins, Central Ideas, and Spread of Islam

Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca that each Muslim is required (health permitting) to take within their lifetime

Qur'an- The holy book of Islam-contains the revelations received by Mohammad

Jihad (Holy Struggle)-The expansion of the Islamic state and control

Trade and the Spread of religion-Silk Roads, Indian Ocean Trade

Interactions…

People conquered by Muslims chose to accept Islam b/c they were attracted to the religious message as well as not having to pay a tax

Forced conversion was forbidden by the Qur’an, so conquered people could keep their own religion

Christians and Jews served as officials, scholars, and bureaucrats in Muslim states

Extensive trade network (Europe, Asia, and N. Africa)

Interactions…

Cultural blending leads to achievements in art and science in Muslim-controlled cities in Asia, Europe, and N. Africa

CrusadesAs Islam spreads to N. Africa, the Berbers

(originally Christian and Jewish) convert to Islam. They are important in the African gold-salt trade.

Interactions…India

Muslim tribes invade starting in NW India in the 600s.

Muslim minority ruling a Hindu majority (Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire)

Sikhism develops

Political, Economic, and Social Impact of Islam on Asia

Mongol invasions of Baghdad-End of Abbasids and a unified Islamic empire

Ottomans (Turkey), Safavids (Persia), and Mughals (India)

Growth of Islam in non-Arab cultures

Political, Economic, and Social Impact of Islam on Africa

Arab settlers in port cities in East AfricaBantu languages blend with Arabic-SwahiliIntroduction of the slave trade in AfricaGrowth of commerce in East Africa leads to

spread of Islam to other parts of the continent

Gold-Salt trade between North African Muslims and empires of West Africa lead to spread of Islam in West Africa

Turning Points in World History 600-1450

Expansion of Islam into N. Africa and SpainUmayyad caliphate: DamascusSunni/Shi’a splitAbbasid caliphate: BaghdadFatimid caliphate: CairoGolden Age in mathematics and science,

including chemistry, scientific method, and medicine

Turning Points in World History 600-1450

Mongol Invasions13th century-spread across Eurasia to create

one of the world’s largest empiresBrutal conquest of the Abbasids and RussiaPax Mongolia-supported trade along Silk

RoadKublai Khan-Yuan dynasty in China

Tang China (618-907 A.D.)

Political developments Add territory in Manchuria and Vietnam Chinese influence in Korean peninsula Restoration of bureaucracy started during Han

dynasty Scholar-officials take civil service exams to work in

government jobsEconomic Developments

Foreign trade increases-Silk Roads New inventions; porcelain, mechanical clocks, block

printing, gunpowder Tea from S.E. Asia

Tang China (618-907 A.D.)

Cultural Developments Spread of Buddhism through trade to Japan, Korea,

and Vietnam Greater social mobility (move up in society) Urbanization-movement to cities Decline in women’s status-footbinding

Song China (960-1279)

Political Developments Rule limited to Southern China

Economic Developments Introduction of fast-growing rice from Vietnam-population

growth Movable type spreads to Japan and Korea Paper money leads to economic growth Advances in sailing technology (magnetic compass) lead to

growth in ocean tradeCultural Developments

Art-landscapes in black ink Population at 100 million with ten cities having at least 1

million

Development of Slave Trade

First major development-7th Century when Islamic traders trade goods for Africans and transport them to S.W. Asia

Muslim African rulers enslave non-Muslims on the Islamic belief that they could be bought and sold as slaves

4.5 million Africans transported as slaves to S.W. Asia from 650-1000 A.D.

Slaves in African and Muslim societies had legal rights and opportunity for social mobility

Trade and New Ideas…

Silk Road-China to Rome-spices and silk from east transported west.

Indian merchants are middlemen and become wealthy

Cultural diffusion (Buddhism and Islam)African Gold-Salt Trade- Arab and Berber

traders took salt from Sahara to West Africa in exchange for gold. West African traders also traded gold for salt in N. Africa

Cultural diffusion (Islam)

Trade and New Ideas…

Indian Ocean TradeArab traders spread Islam to East AfricaArab slave trade along East African coastPiracyMonsoon winds

Impact of Mongols

Russia Fall of Kiev Religion and culture permitted to continue as long as

high tributes were paid Isolation from western Europe-no spread of new ideas

and inventions Moscow emerges as major city Ivan III takes title of czar-throws off Mongol rule

Impact of Mongols

China Northern China conquered 1234 Kublai Khan completes capture of Southern China in

1279 and establishes the Yuan dynasty China united for 1st time in 300 years (after the fall of

the Tang) Mongol control over most of Asia opens China to

foreign contacts and trade (Marco Polo)

Impact of Mongols

Islamic World Baghdad (Abbasid caliphate) sacked and 10,000 killed Poorly administered by the Mongols and leads to way

to the rise of the Ottoman Turks

Diffusion of Ideas

Islamic World House of Wisdom in Baghdad-translated scientific and

medical documents into Arabic Astrolabe Algebra Optics

Tang China Porcelain Movable type Gunpowder Mechanical clock Paper Money Magnetic compass

Influence of Islam on Law and Government in the Islamic World

Shari’a-Islamic law-Regulates family life, moral conduct, and business matters

Religious matters are not separate from criminal or civil matters

Islamic judges (qadis) apply the law and imams (religious leaders) interpret the law

Regulation of human behavior (5 Pillars of Islam)

Dietary/Clothing restrictionsSunni/Shi’a split