Islam Intro to Unit 2

600-1450CE Chapter 6

THE POSTCLASSICAL ERA, 600-1450

The spread of major world religions across political and cultural borders and the development of a new, more regular system of trade that connected much of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The spread of trade helped disseminate religion, and confidence in a divine order helped merchants take risks. A trigger for this change was the economic decline and disorder associated with the decline of the classical empires.

Religion and commerce were the engines of change in the postclassical period. Both facilitated the spread of technologies, ideas, and disease. Even though the classical empires collapsed, the successes of classical civilization encouraged many people to maintain or revive classical forms.

The impact of this time period on the daily life of women was noticeable. The postclassical period saw an intriguing tension on the roles of women as religions insisted on equality but societies clung onto the patriarchal culture.

Big Picture &Background Islam first appeared on the Arabian Peninsula

› Bedouin pastoral nomad tribes Goat and Camels Some small agricultural settlements south

› Towns like Mecca developed along coasts Clan Loyalty and rivalry

› Clans had different Clan Idols Blend of animism and polytheism

Art was largely nonexistent (maybe the Idols) Shaykhs were leaders of the Bedouin Women enjoyed somewhat greater freedoms

Then something changed….

Timeline

Map Exercise Arabia and

Surrounding Area Before and During the Time of Muhammad

Expansion of the Islamic Empire During the 7th and 8th Centuries

Muhammad

(Born 570 Mecca – Died 632 Medina) Founder of the religion of Islam regarded by Muslims

as a messenger and prophet of Allah after receiving a message from archangel Jobril “Gabriel” (610 CE)› The last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of

28 Islamic prophets› Restorer of the uncorrupted original monotheistic faith of

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets Also a diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator,

legislator, reformer, & military general The start of political empires and major culture

change

(P) Political, State-building, Expansion, and Conflict

Mohammad unified the Arab tribes under religion, but would also become a political system:

So, after Mohammad’s Death…Ridda Wars happened to restore unity of the tribes (faith)

Political structures:› Mohammad’s father-in-law Abu Bakr assumed leadership of the

Umma (the faithful, followers of prophet) › Ali (Mohammad’s son-in-law & blood descendant) was passed

over. The catalyst of the Sunni-Shi’s split

Form of Government- Theocracy Empires

› Umayyad Caliphate(661-750) capital in Damascus, captured Mesopotamia, N. Africa, & Persia

› Abbasid Caliphate(750-1258) moved the capital to Bagdad. The first 300 years are known as the zenith of Islamic civilization as a single religious and political entity

(P) Political, State-building, expansion, and Conflict

Revolts and Revolutions-› Hijra- 622 CE (Islam year one)

Mohammad & his followers forced out of Mecca and fled to Medina (200 miles/320kilometres)

622-630 marked with battles with other Arabian tribes Mohammad returned to Mecca with 10k men

Regional, trans-regional, and global structures & organizations

Conflicts or Revolts› The Sunni & Shiite split- 656-661 disputes in Mohammad’s

family led to civil war – when Caliph Ali was assassinated in 661, Shiites believed the Umayyads to be usurpers

› This conflict still remains today…› Umayyad’s extravagance led to the empire’s overthrow in 750› Crusades (1095 – 1291) more detail during Europe

(E) Economic Systems (Creation, expansion, and interaction) Agricultural & pastoral production

› Conquered areas had crops Arabs never seen before: sugar cane, rice, spinach, artichokes

› Shared new crops & farming techniques› Increased food supply = surplus crops growth of cities

Trade & Commerce› Merchants & Landlords grew in wealth & status.› A boat called ‘dhow’ improved sailing, carried goods across

Indian Ocean & Mediterranean Sea Routes Labor Systems

› Slave labor became increasingly important for unskilled work› Craftsman- catering to the wealthy: furniture, carpets, glassware,

jewelry, & tapestries Industrialization

› All the above stimulated new businesses › Cities like Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Cairo grew

(R) Religion & Belief Systems(Development & Interaction of Cultures

Religion(s)- The word Islam comes from the Arabic phrase “to submit to God” Universal & ethnic religion that has diffused around the world › Sacred Place(s) Ka’ba in Mecca, Medina, Dome on the Rock, Masque in Istanbul › Important texts: Quran (Koran), › Belief systems:› Abraham is the patriarch› His son Ismail (Ishmeal) is their direct ancestor› Other major prophets: Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, John the Baptist & Jesus› Muhammad believed he was the last of 28 prophets

Muslims respect Jews & Christians as “people of the book” Term Muslim in Arabic means –”one who has submitted to the will of God”

Philosophies› Five Pillars of Islam- the fundamental obligations of Islam that distinguish it from

Christianity and Judaism› 1. Testimony of faith, 2. Prayer (Daily Worship 5 times a day), 3. Almsgiving (Annual

Tax) 4. Fasting (Ramadan), 5. Pilgrimage (Mecca 1x in life) Ideologies

› Sufism- appeared 700-800CE a mystical tradition of fasting, prayer, & meditation to grow closer to Allah (Prominent in Iran)

› Jihad-

(R) Religion & Belief Systems(Development & Interaction of Cultures Science- Built on the mathematical knowledge of

ancient Hindu scholars› Algebra› Arabic numerals still used today› Optical science, pharmacology, & anatomy

Key Technology- › Borrowed inventions from China:

Paper, Compass, gunpowder, Arts-

› Distinct from most others because of its intricate, geometrically based format Quran strictly forbade the lifelike representation of human

figures esp. of Muhammad or Allah Architecture- Art carried over to public buildings,

colored ceramic tiles, › Domes, Arches, Columns, Minaret(Prayer Tower)

(C) Culture (Development and transformation of Social Structures)

Gender roles and relations› Women- Dress restrictions, appearance in public, modesty, veil

Right to inherit, have dowries, and own property› Men – Male domination was offset by the command to treat women with

respect Family and kinship

› Polygamy up to 4 wives (Concubines, Harem) Racial and ethnic constructions

› Abbasids fully integrated the ‘Mawali’ into the Islamic community Social and economic classes

› Ayans – Land owning Elite. Dhimmis- people of the book were protected (Jews, Christians, & Zoroastrianism) Slaves important as Bedouin settled down.

Language- Arabic was a unifying force in the Islamic caliphates= Quran only written in Arabic

Writing systems- Arabic, paper made sharing of ideas & writing books much cheaper› Many books “Golden Age” (Poetry sung aloud in Arabic-Jalal al-Din al-Rumi)› Many love stories & folktales = “The Thousand and One Nights”

Learning- Madrasas (Universities) Scholars sought to preserve works of the Greek, Roman, and Indian civilizations

(I) Interactions (Interaction between humans and the environment) Demography = Population Increase Migration- of Arabs via the different

Islamic Empires Crusades by Europeans migrating to

Islamic areas between1095 and 1291 not much cultural change.

Patterns of settlement- Nomads became urban

Technology’s impact on environment-

Continuities over Time Dar-Islam developed into one of the most

dominant influences throughout the eastern hemisphere (Eurasia, Africa) › Even through Mongol invasions Dar-Islam

thrived. Dar-Islam - Muslims culture and life styles

Patriarchy Nomadic conflict with settled, advanced,

urban cultures Major cities centers of trade and culture

Change over Time Changing Empires:

› Umayyad 661-750 (Internal Riots by general public because of

› Abbasids 750-1258 (Mongols sack Baghdad)

› Mamluk Dynasty- Mongols who made Egypt the center of Islam culture (sacked by Ottomans later 16th century)

› After Mongols, new empires of Ottomans (Turkey), Safavids (Persia), Mughals (Delhi Sultanate, India) Started in 1300s-1400s

Change over Time Continued….

Increase of long distance trade, interactions of Indian Ocean & Trans-Saharan trade routes creating new trade

Major Comparisons Analyze gender systems & changes Interactions between Jews, Christians,

& Muslims Compare European & sub-Saharan

African contacts with Islamic World