On the Edge of On the Edge of the Medieval the Medieval

WestWest

The Role of Byzantine and The Role of Byzantine and Islamic Civilization in Islamic Civilization in

European Society European Society

I. The Martel BoysI. The Martel BoysThe man who would be (and finally The man who would be (and finally

was) Kingwas) King

Charles & the Battle of Tours 732 CECharles & the Battle of Tours 732 CE

“ “The The Hammer”Hammer”

A. Empire reborn?A. Empire reborn?

1. Charlemagne1. Charlemagner. 768-814r. 768-814

Christmas Day 800Christmas Day 800- Holy Roman Empire- Holy Roman Empire

- - Irene & Leo (III)Irene & Leo (III)

B. Carolingian B. Carolingian RenaissanceRenaissance

1.1. Romanesque/ Gothic societyRomanesque/ Gothic society- - Reformed the clergyReformed the clergy

pagan influencespagan influences

universitiesuniversities

monasteriesmonasteries

- Forced conversions- Forced conversions

Legacy of the Carolingians…Legacy of the Carolingians…

- Church props up Carolingians to deal with - Church props up Carolingians to deal with Byzantine & Muslim “threats”Byzantine & Muslim “threats”

- Withstood new invasions ca. 700+- Withstood new invasions ca. 700+

(Vikings, Magyars, Muslims)(Vikings, Magyars, Muslims)

End of the “Dark Ages”?End of the “Dark Ages”?

II. The ByzantinesII. The Byzantines

A. CosmopolitanA. Cosmopolitan1.1. Crossroads of civilizationCrossroads of civilization

UrbanUrban

Hellenistic Hellenistic

Latin Latin

Christian Christian

Persian Persian

Semitic Semitic

IslamicIslamic

2.2. What price peace? What price peace?- Theodosius - Theodosius 347-395347-395

GothsGothsTheodosian CodeTheodosian Code

- Zeno - Zeno 425-491425-491 Ostrogoths / Franks Ostrogoths / Franks

3.3. Re-Hellenization of the East Re-Hellenization of the East- urban life- urban life- civilian bureaucrats- civilian bureaucrats- dependent aristocracy- dependent aristocracy- Limits to Church power- Limits to Church power

monasteriesmonasteries Imperial agentsImperial agents

B. AutocraticB. Autocratic 1.1. Circus, circusCircus, circus

- Nika Revolt, 532- Nika Revolt, 532

2.2. JustinianJustinian r. 527-565r. 527-565

Roman and notRoman and not

““individualism w/o individualism w/o freedom”freedom”

- no republican pretense- no republican pretense

TheodoraTheodora

C. MilitaristicC. Militaristic1.1. One Emperor, one empireOne Emperor, one empire

D. Legal legacyD. Legal legacy

1.1. Corpus Iuris civilis Corpus Iuris civilis ca. 530ca. 530

(Justinian Code)(Justinian Code)

““The maxims of law are these: to live The maxims of law are these: to live honestly, to hurt no one, to give honestly, to hurt no one, to give everyone his due.”everyone his due.”

Civil Law – Civil Law – establish principle firstestablish principle first

Archivists of the ClassicsArchivists of the Classics

E. Claim to OrthodoxyE. Claim to Orthodoxy

1.1. Metaphysical ChristianityMetaphysical Christianity

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

2.2. Monophysite heresyMonophysite heresy

II. IslamII. Islam

A. OriginsA. Origins

1.1. Bedouin lifeBedouin life- Abrahamic- Abrahamic

2.2. ShrinesShrines[the Ka’aba][the Ka’aba]

- “safe zones”- “safe zones”

B. Muhammad B. Muhammad 570-632570-632

1.1. SurasSuras “divine messages” “divine messages” 610 610

- the Qur’an “Recitation”- the Qur’an “Recitation”

2.2. Progressive populistProgressive populist- critique of elites- critique of elites

- strict monotheism- strict monotheism

al’Ilahal’Ilah “the God” “the God”

salama,salama, or “islam” = submit to God’s or “islam” = submit to God’s willwill

Final prophet?Final prophet?

C. Birth of Islamic C. Birth of Islamic CivilizationCivilization

1.1. HijraHijra – – “departure” to Medina “departure” to Medina 622 CE622 CE

UmmaUmma “community” or bond of faith “community” or bond of faith faith over tribe faith over tribe

2.2. Jihad Jihad “holy struggle”“holy struggle”- Mosaic- Mosaic

survival and social justicesurvival and social justiceinternal and externalinternal and external

627 – victory over Mecca627 – victory over Mecca

purge of idolspurge of idols

3.3. SuccessionSuccession- Muhammad’s death 632- Muhammad’s death 632

- Abu Bakr d. 634 Caliph, - Abu Bakr d. 634 Caliph, “successor”“successor”

D. Islam & medieval D. Islam & medieval ChristianityChristianity

1.1. Hebraic ancestry, Greek philosophyHebraic ancestry, Greek philosophy2.2. The Five Pillars of IslamThe Five Pillars of Islam

There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophetprophet

Fixed prayer timeFixed prayer time

Contribute to charitiesContribute to charities

Season of fasting (Ramadan)Season of fasting (Ramadan)

One pilgrimage to MeccaOne pilgrimage to Mecca

33. Authority – religious and secular. Authority – religious and secular- Christianity and Rome- Christianity and Rome

4.4. Shari’a state Shari’a state “required “required path”path”- religious community responsible for social - religious community responsible for social justicejustice- Islamic law can govern secular activity- Islamic law can govern secular activity

Medieval West often divided between Medieval West often divided between Church-political conflict…Islamic world Church-political conflict…Islamic world largely avoids this problem during early largely avoids this problem during early expansionexpansion

III. The Islamic WorldIII. The Islamic World

The Truth must be taken wherever it is to The Truth must be taken wherever it is to be found,be found,whether it be in the past or among whether it be in the past or among strange peoples.strange peoples.

- Ya’qub al-Kindi- Ya’qub al-Kindi

AlhambraAlhambra Palace, Spain Palace, Spain

A. Liberation IslamA. Liberation Islam

1.1. Byzantine troubleByzantine trouble- Abu Bakr & Umar “Wars of - Abu Bakr & Umar “Wars of Reconversion”Reconversion”

B. LeadershipB. Leadership

1.1. Succession Succession 656656 - Ali (son-in law) vs. Uthman - Ali (son-in law) vs. Uthman (Umayyad)(Umayyad)

2.2. Shi’aShi’a “party of Ali”“party of Ali”- hidden Imam- hidden Imam

3.3. SunnisSunnis “orthodox”“orthodox”- historic dynasties- historic dynasties

C. Umayyad Caliphate C. Umayyad Caliphate 660-750660-750

1.1. Mediterranean conquestMediterranean conquest- elitist / Arab “nationalism”- elitist / Arab “nationalism”

DamascusDamascus

D. Abbasid Caliphate D. Abbasid Caliphate 750-1258750-1258

1.1. non-Arab revoltnon-Arab revolt BaghdadBaghdad

Whoever speaks Arabic is an ArabWhoever speaks Arabic is an Arab

Hellenistic, Persian, North African + ArabicHellenistic, Persian, North African + Arabic

E. Flowering of Islamic E. Flowering of Islamic civilizationcivilization

1.1. Intellect, humanity and the Intellect, humanity and the divinedivine “ “Golden Age of Translation”Golden Age of Translation”

- Greek logic & medicineGreek logic & medicine- Persian / Egyptian math astronomyPersian / Egyptian math astronomy

2.2. TradeTrade

F. Things to comeF. Things to come

1.1. DivisionsDivisions- ca. 1000, 3 Caliphates- ca. 1000, 3 Caliphates

AbbasidAbbasidUmayyad (Spain)Umayyad (Spain)Fatimid (North Africa)Fatimid (North Africa)

- - EmirsEmirs

- Sunnis & Shi’a- Sunnis & Shi’a

2.2. OutsidersOutsiders- Berbers, Seljuk Turks- Berbers, Seljuk Turks- Christian - Christian JihadJihad, 1100s-1200s, 1100s-1200s

The CrusadesThe Crusades