Islamic Community Today

Rise & Characteristics of IslamI. Rise and Nature of Islam

A.Monotheistic faith – AllahB. Muhammad founds & organizes 1st Muslim

community – Medina & MeccaC. Beliefs & practices reflected interactions w/Jews,

Christians, & Zoroastrians.1. One god2. Common prophets3. All were “People of the Book”

a. Faith based on scriptureb. Islamic holy book = Qur’anc. Hadith – collection of stories about sayings of

Muhammad

Rise & Characteristics of Islam

D. Basic tenets = Five PillarsE. Shari’a law, based on Qur’an &

Hadith, governed Muslim societies

Kaaba

Rise & Characteristics of IslamF. Religious Division between Sunni & Shi’a

1. Dispute over leadership2. Source of tension & division today in Muslim world

Sunni

Shi’a

Rise & Characteristics of Islam – Sunni Shi’a Division

Phases of Early Islamic Expansion

Rise & Characteristics of IslamII. Phases of Islamic Expansion

A. Conditions aiding expansion 1. Religion was becoming more of a unifying

cultural & economic force2. Stronger feelings about religion than gov’t3. Arabs & Berbers adopted camel to travel

across/around Sahara Deserta. Camel Saddle = Improved travel, trade,

militaryb.Caravanserai - provided for safe travel,

cultural & economic exchange

Berber Populations- Adopted Islam

Arab Populations- Early leaders of Islam

It was the Arabs, however, who came to realize, and develop, the full potential of the camel. Indeed, without the camel the entire history of the Arab world might have been quite different. Domestication of the camel enabled early Arabs to explore and master the deserts of the Middle East, develop and monopolize the ancient trade routes between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean, establish mercantile networks and centers in northern and central Arabia, and later, after the rise of Islam, to carry their faith to the borders of China, North Africa and France; because of the camel, Arab armies could move swiftly and unexpectedly across terrain thought impenetrable by distant foes. And though attacks were often made on horseback, once the camel saddle was developed to the point where riders could use lances effectively, camels became tactically important too.

Camel Saddle Improved travel, trade, & military expansion!

Camel video

Other camel video

Caravanseraiprovided for safe travel, cultural & economic exchange

Caravanseraiprovided for safe travel, cultural & economic exchange

Caravanseraiprovided for safe travel, cultural & economic exchange

Phases of Early Islamic Expansion

Rise & Characteristics of IslamB. Initial Phase from Arabian Peninsula

1. Primarily military conquest against weakened Byzantine & Persian empires.

2. Middle East to Iberian Peninsula (Spain)3. Rapid economic & territorial gain4. Creation of Dar al-Islam “abode/house of Islam”;

Muslim territory

Rise & Characteristics of IslamC. Later Phase to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE Asia

1. Primarily due to merchant & missionary activity2. Mostly coastal regions of E Africa, India, SE Asia

Cultural and Technological ExchangeIII. Islamic Impact on Cultural & Technological Exchange

A. Linguistic Unity1. Spread of Arabic throughout Dar al-Islam2. Qur’an written, recited in Arabic3. Spread of Turkic languages during later Turkic

caliphates

Cultural and Technological ExchangeIII. Islamic Impact on Cultural & Technological Exchange

B. New Forms of Monetization1. Bills of exchange2. Checks3. Banking houses4. All adopted in Europe

Cultural and Technological Exchange

III. Islamic Impact on Cultural & Technological ExchangeC. Diffusion of Agriculture

1. Spread of cotton, sugar, & citrus growing from S & SE Asia throughout Dar al-Islam to the west

Cultural and Technological ExchangeIII. Islamic Impact on Cultural & Technological Exchange

D. Diffusion of Greek & Indian Knowledge1. Muslim scholars adopt Greek scientific & mathematical

principlesa. Advance & spread throughout Islamic lands

2. Indian number system adopted and spread westward (Arabic Numerals)

Cultural and Technological Exchange3. Eventual return of Classical science & technology to Europe

a. Al-Andelus in Iberiab. Cultural interaction through Crusades

Cultural and Technological Exchange4. Chess originated in India; transmitted to Europe by the Islamic world

Critical Intro

Compare the Golden Age of the Abbasid Dynasty with the Pax Romana of Rome.

Islamic StatesIV. The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

A. Abbasid Caliphate1. Caliphate = Islamic state led by a supreme

religious/political leader known as a caliph.2. Baghdad = capital city of Abbasid Caliphate3. Baghdad = center of Islamic Golden Age

a. Major trade city

Fragmentation of Abbasid Empire

Islamic StatesIV. The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

B. Muslim Iberia1. Al-Andalus or Moorish Iberia2. Moors = European term for Muslims3. Cordoba = cultural & economic center4. Cultural exchange between Muslims & Christians

Islamic StatesIV. The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

C. Delhi Sultanate1. Turkic Muslims gain control over much of India2. Very little penetration of Indian/Hindu society3. Converts among Buddhists + low-caste Hindus4. Series of Turkic & Muslim regimes until British takeover in the 1700-1800s.

Delhi Sultanate

Islamic StatesIV. The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

D. Synthesis of Local and Borrowed (Islamic) Culture

1. Persian traditions influenced Islamic states2. Shi’a Persian states3. Noticeable artistic impact = Shi’a-based Persian - colorful geometric designs

Geometric Art & Architecture

Islamic StatesIV.The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

E. Economic Impacts of Dar al Islam1. Persian expansion of textiles for export

a. Benefit from trans-regional trade

Islamic StatesIV.The Rise and Nature of Islamic States

E. Economic Impacts of Dar al Islam2. Increased demand for slaves

a. Military & domestic purposesb. In E. Med., Eurasia & parts of Africa

3. Initiates external African slave trade

Spread of Islam to Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia

IV. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaA. Differed from early expansion

1. Unlike Arab conquest of Middle East & N. Africa & the Turkic military invasion of India; 2. SE Asia & Sub-Saharan/West Africa Islamized due

to merchant activities & Sufi (Islamic holy men) activity.3. Continued diffusion of lit., cult., art. traditions

Spread of Islam to Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia

V. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaA. Sub-Saharan Africa

1. “Sudanic Kingdoms” (from Arab word for black) of Ghana & Mali

a. Southern rim of Sahara Des.2. Extensive trade from Sudanic to N. Africa & M.E.

a. Gold, salt, some slaves

V. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaA. Sub-Saharan Africa

3. Contacts w/N. Africa = Awareness of Islama. Sudanic kings converted & used Muslims as

bureaucrats.- Valued their ed. & literacy

4. Kings of Mali established major Islamic education centers

a. University at Timbuktu

Mansa Musa – pilgrimage to Mecca

V. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaA. Sub-Saharan Africa

5. Much of traditional African culture remains intacta. No mass conversionsb. Political institutions, popular religion, art & gender roles remained intact

IV. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaB. S & SE Asia

1. Islamic Diasporic Communities (dispersed/separated communities) emerge in Indian Ocean basin.a. Muslim merchant communitiesb. East coast of Africa (Kilwa, Mombasa,

Mogadishu) , coasts of India (Calicut), SE Asian islands (Malaccan Strait)

Islamic Diasporic Communities

IV. Islam Spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa & SE AsiaC. Interregional Travellers

1. Ibn Battutaa. Moroccan (W. African) Muslimb. Travelled & chronicled Muslim world from

Africa to China.

http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2084413,00.html

Region Extent of Islamitization

Reason/s for Extent Synthesis Between Local & Islamic

Culture

Role of SufisMuslim holy men;

seeking/teaching direct relationship with god; no

worldly possessions

India

Anatolia

West Africa

Spain

Islam and Cultural Encounter: A Four-Way Comparison

Comparisons:

Similarities between the four regions?__________________________________________________________________________________

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Differences? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Why was Anatolia so much more thoroughly Islamized than India? _______________________________________________________

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One-sentence analytical generalization about each region:India

Anatolia

West Africa

Spain