Islamic EmpiresMiddle East Notes 3

Succession after Muhammad’s Death

With the death of Muhammad in 632, there was a question about which caliph was to lead the Muslims.

Caliph – “Successor”

Most felt that it should be Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s main advisor. Other’s felt that it should be Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali.

The majority followed Abu Bakr and would become known as Sunnis because they hold the Sunnah in high regard.

Those that followed Ali, would become known as Shias, which means supporters.

This split between the Muslim still exists today. There are religious and observance differences, yet they share the basic same beliefs.

The first four caliphs – beginning with Bakr – ruled the growing Arab Muslim Empire from Medina.

Eventually Ali would become the 4th caliph, yet he was assassinated in the 5th year of his reign.

After that the caliphate passed to the powerful Umayyad Dynasty.

Umayyad DynastyMoved the capital from Medina to Damascus, Syria

Under this dynasty, the Muslim Empire reached its largest size – stretching from the Middle East, across North Africa and into Spain.

Many conquered cultures began to adopt Islam and some began to speak Arabic.

While the Umayyad’s began to mix the influences of these new cultures with their own to create a unique Muslim civilization.

Eventually many Muslims began to question the Umayyad dynasty and whether they were taking their duties seriously.

Over time different groups began to protest including the Abbasids.

End of the Umayyads

By 750, the Abbasids had combined forces and taken power from the Umayyads.

According to some historians, the Abbasids invited Umayyad leaders to a meeting to talk about peace.

Abbasids murdered all the Umayyads and seized power.

One prominent Umayyad, Abd al-Rahman, escaped and fled to Spain where he re-established the Umayyad dynasty.

After this, the Muslim Empire was permanently split into eastern and western sections.

Abbasid DynastyRuled from 750 to 1258.

Moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad, which became the center of a golden age of art, science and learning.

Yet slowly the Abbasids were loosing control of their vast empire. In 756, Spain became an independent Muslim state

By the 960s, a Shia Muslim group known as the Fatmids (they were Shia) took over and controlled much of North Africa until 1171.

In 1055, they were attacked by Seljuk Turks from Central Asia.The Seljuks took control, yet allowed the Abbasid caliphs to remain on the throne, but took away all their real powers.

In 1071, the Seljuks captured Jerusalem and began to threaten Constantinople. This brought a response from the Christian countries of Europe, which led to the Crusades.

1250s – Mongols invaded Muslim lands. Baghdad was destroyed in 1258, when the Mongols killed tens of thousands of people and killed the caliph.

Other Muslim Empires

Ottoman Empire – lasted from the 1300s until 1923. Overthrew Constantinople in 1453 – led by Mehmed II.

Suleiman the Magnificent was the 10th and longest reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566. Known for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system.

Safavid Empire – took over Persia in the 1500s. Unlike the other Empires, which were Sunni, this Empire was a Shia Empire.

Mughal Empire – In 1526, Muslim Mongols and Turks overtook the Delhi sultanate, which had been in power since the 700s.

The Mughals ruled India until 1857The Taj Mahal was built to honor the wife of a Mughal ruler.

Reasons for the success of the spread of Islam

There were many reasons behind the successful spread of Islam.

1. Merchants who had converted to Islam carried their new faith with them to new lands.

2. Missionaries often accompanied the merchants.

3. Decline of the Persian and Byzantine Empires.

4. Devotion of the Muslim WarriorsThey had the skill to win battles and the faith which gave them a special edge – they believed that Allah was on their side.

5. Religious toleration. Many of the conquered lands were home to numerous Jews and Christians. Muslims did not force their religion on these groups, which in turn made the conquered peoples less likely to rebel.

6. Appeal of Islam itself. By offering a direct path to God and salvation; it emphasized the equality of all believers; fairness and justice in human affairs