Middle East & the Spread of Islam

1. Middle East & the Spread of Islam First Global Civilization? Chapter 6 & 7 Pg. 126-160

2. Define • Bedouin • Arab • Islam • Muslim

3. Pre-Islamic Arab World • Arabian Peninsula = harsh desert • Cities • Towns • Bedouins Clans: Rivalry & Vengeance • Harsh climate = dependence on clan • Social cohesion reinforced by warriors, control of pastureland, & water

4. Bedouin woman • Bedouins on the move from oasis to oasis

5. Towns & Trade • Several key towns arose near Red Sea as a result of transcontinental trade • Mecca • Medina

6. Marriage & Family • Bedouin women enjoyed higher status than neighbors • In urban environments, women’s status was much lower Poets & Gods • Because of the harsh environment… • Material culture neglected in favor of oral poetry • Animistic polytheism

7. Genesis of Islam • Byzantine & Persian empires in N & E Mesopotamia struggled against each other to expand influence • Bedouins face crisis • Muhammad rises to challenge • Meditation → Revelation → Quran • Islam is born!

8. Persecution, Flight, Victory • Muhammad threatens the status of Mecca’s Umayyad clan • Fled to Medina & earns new converts • Muhammad returns to Mecca smashing idols in Kaba • Islam reigns supreme

9. Arabs & Islam • Islam addresses needs & weaknesses of Arab society Universal Elements of Islam • Islamic beliefs yield universal appeal • Five Pillars

10. Question: • Assess the influence of each of the Five Pillars on the spread of Islam. • What are the intended & un-intended consequences of these practices spiritually? culturally? globally? the Kaba

11. Umayyad: an Arab Empire • Muhammad died in 632 w/o appointing successor, creating a crisis • Caliph • Position to be filled by Ali or Abu Bakr • Abu Bakr = 1st Caliph • Led rapid expansion of Arab empire Consolidation & Division

12. Motives for Arab Conquests • Arab warriors driven to conquest for wealth & glory rather than jihad Weakness of the Adversaries • Persia – weakened from war & manipulation • Byzantium – weakened from war & resentful minority groups

13. Succession Problem → Sunni-Shia • Factionalism resulted from confusion over succession between Ali & Umayyad clan • Deep divisions: • Sunni • Shia

14. Umayyad Imperium • Built extensive empire from Spain to Central Asia • Maintained control through Arab minority

15. Converts & “People of the Book” • Converts not treated as full citizens • “People of the book” taxed, but allowed to keep religions & communities intact

16. Umayyad Family & Gender Roles • Women enjoyed stronger status under Muhammad’s leadership during the early years of Islam

17. Umayyad Decline • Caused by: • Alienated followers by becoming aloof, corrupt, & decadent • Failed to integrate non-Arabs & dissents ↳Sparked revolt in Persia among Abbasid

18. Questions • Assess the validity of the claim that “The empire built from Umayyad conquests was Arab rather than Islamic.”

19. Abbasid: an Islamic Empire • Signs of things to come: • Brutal treatment of Umayyad → absolutist • Capital in Baghdad → strong Persian influence • Growing power of wazir → bureaucratization Islamic Conversion • Abbasid era saw full integration of citizens & converts

20. Town & Country • Abbasid age saw urbanization & expansion of trade • Rural estates prospered: • Large estates – ayan, enriched warriors • Slave labor

21. First Flowering of Learning • Islamic civilization made key contributions in art, religion, law, philosophy, science, & math • Greece Global Connections • Islam presents the unprecedented rise of backwater nomads to global empire

22. Abbasid: later in the Heartlands • Key problems surface as early as 3rd Abbasid caliph Imperial Extravagance • Harun al-Rashid’s reign proved pivotal in extravagance & succession • Court factionalism • Rise of Turk mercenaries

23. Imperial Breakdown • Extravagance & succession disputes fed spiraling financial problems Abbasid Family & Women • Rise of harem & veil meant high class women were increasingly uneducated & secluded • Contrast w/ slaves

24. Nomadic Incursions • With caliph in disorder, Abbasid splintered into regional kingdoms • Buyids capture Baghdad in 945 • Seljuk Turks capture Baghdad in 1055

25. Questions • Compare and contrast the Umayyad and Abbasid. • Which is more significant? Why? • Assess the validity of calling the later period of the Muslim empire, “Abbasid.”

26. Impact of Christian Crusaders • Series of Christian crusades attempt to capture holy land starting in 1096 • Europeans established series of small kingdoms in Eastern Med. until 1291 • Crusades had much larger impact on Europe by intensifying exchange

27. Age of Learning & Art • As Persians gained greater power, Persian language became language of high culture • EX – history, poetry, mystical revelations Full Flowering of Persian Lit

28. Achievements in Sciences • Abbasid era established itself as most technologically & scientifically advanced Religious Trends & Expansion • Contradictory religious trends reflect paths in society • Orthodoxy • Sufi movement

29. New Nomadic Invasion & Fall • 13th century dominated by Mongol invaders • Baghdad & Abbasid fall in 1258

30. Questions • What seems to be the key in determining status and freedoms of women? • Support your answer with examples from the text.