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