Islam

1. Islam

2. The first global civilization • Final great world religion- will explode and give birth to an empire that stretches from Spain to India. • Arabs interested in culture and ideas-borrowed from many civilizations: synthesis • “global” civilization based on size, and # of civs they interacted (Greece, Rome, India, Byzantine, Egypt, Asia)

3. Geography: Arabia • Middle of nowhere • Driest and most uninhabitable part of middle east. Constant struggle for existence. • Barely a “civilization” nomadic herding clan groups. • Only coast areas could support towns- centers for trade across desert and Arabian/Red Seas. • Mecca and Medina the largest

5. Bedouin • Camel and goat herders. • Fierce family ties- clans/tribes led by Shaykhs. • Interclan rivalries intense- all out war could come from drinking from the wrong well. • Conflicts based on specific codes of honor/behavior and retaliation (Blood feud) • Blending of animistic (Jinns) and polytheistic religious beliefs- worship at Ka’ba in Mecca (including Allah)

7. Culture and Social Structure • Codes of honor (chivalry) dictated much of family life. Tribal customs are tricky- life in the desert doesn’t leave room for creativity • Very little art/architecture (other than rugs) • Liked poetry- but had no written language • Women had key roles- cared for animals, wove cloth for tents etc… • Society matrilineal in some tribes- with polygamy for men AND women • Status came from clan, leadership from Shaykh- no formal law codes

8. Muhammad • Caravan trader from Mecca. (had traveled- had knowledge of other religions/culture, especially Judaism and Christianity) • From powerful Quraysh tribe. • Dissatisfied with life based on material gain- took to wandering and meditating

9. The Vision • 610 visited by Gabriel, who laid down god’s final plan for humanity (Quran) Told he would be the “seal of the prophets” the last one • Came home, told his family, and began to preach • Set off rivalries with Umayyad tribe (which ran Mecca) Muhammad was forced to flee the city in 622.

10. Hijra • 622 is year 1 in the Muslim calendar • Goes to Medina, which is in the middle of conflict- he mediates, and becomes city leader (makes Umayyad back home even madder) • Mecca attacks Medina- Muhammad’s forces defeat them (Islam is military right from beginning) • By 629 Muhammad had defeated Umayyads enough that he can come back to Mecca: destroys the idols in the Ka’ba and dedicated the black stone to Allah as the one true god.

11. Islam: the Umma • Islam gave Arabs something they have never had- a unifying force. Transcended clan rivalries and ended feuds. • Umma- community of the faithful, all Muslims are equal. • No intermediaries or priests needed for worship of Allah- every believer has everything he needs • Universalizing religion: not specific to one culture or region. • Accepted Judaism and Christianity as precursors – “people of the book”

12. Key Elements • 5 pillars (confession, prayer, fasting, zakat, hajj) • Quran the direct word of god- lead to development of a written language (combined from Greek/Latin/Farsi) Only in Arabic for 1000+ years- spread language globally • Hadith: saying of the prophet, collected by followers from 622-632. • Shar’ia: Islamic law. Covered all aspects of life (much like Jewish Torah)

13. The Caliphs • “successor to the prophet” political and religious leaders. • Muhammad dies in 632- without any plans for leadership after him. • Abu Bakr (a close friend) was 1st- but right from the start there was disagreement about who should lead. (son in law/cousin Ali, a popular choice, but too young) • Main job of Caliph was to lead the drive to spread Islam. Went VERY well- spread more in 100 years than Christianity would in 300. • United, Arabs had a sense of unity and righteous strength- fighting “nonbelievers” would replace fighting each other (rather like the crusades in Europe)

14. The Arab Empire: The 1st wave • Ridda wars- finished conquest of Arabia. • Spread into Syria and Egypt (both Byzantine) Showed weakness of Byzantine territory, and made them a kingdom under siege • Wanted to glorify and spread religion, but not force conversion (jihad comes later) • All umma who fought got share of spoils of war • Next attacked Sassanid Empire (Persia)

16. People of the Book • Jews and Christians were considered “pre-Islamic”. (because they were not forced to convert many will come to it on their own) • Muslims honored Abraham, Moses and Jesus (amongst others) as prophets • Religious tolerance-just required to pay a special “jizya” or head tax.

17. Mawali • People outside of Arabia who DID convert were still not Umma – still had to pay head tax- just less. • Not eligible for spoils of conquest

18. Sufi • Mystical Muslims. • Sought an individual connection to divine truth (which they got through whirling, dancing, fasting, drugs, prayer) • Missionaries- especially important in 2nd wave of conversion which took place in Asia.

19. Sunni/Shi’a Split • 3rd Caliph unpopular (from umayyad clan) murdered. • Ali now old enough to lead- but umayyad clan didn’t want to give up power- refused to accept him • Fighting broke out, tensions that had been masked by military success came to a head • Ali killed- but his supporters remained vocal. • Split into two groups based on who should lead • Sunni: anyone can lead (90%) would take over • Shi’a: online the bloodline of the prophet. (10%) Disclaim first 3 caliphs – have their own

21. Umayyad Dynasty • Technically caliphs are elected, but become hereditary. • Umayyads controlled caliphate from 661-750. • Moved capital to Damascus in Syria (was from Arabia) Opulent lifestyle- very different • Reinvigorated conquest- across N. Africa and into Spain, Crete, Sicily, Sardinia. Across Afghanistan, Pakistan into India and Central Asia • Created a Bureaucracy to run empire- and social hierarchy Arab, mawali, dhimma, unbelievers • Mawali rebelled, overthrew dynasty in 740s

23. Abbasid Dynasty: a golden age • Ruled 750-1258. • Claimed to be descendents of Muhammad’s uncle (made them acceptable to Shi’a) Tried to exterminate entire umayyad clan so they could never rise again • Will take empire from “Arab” to “Islamic”- get rid of mawali distinction- all Muslims = • Create a blended society based on religion and culture. • Moved capital to Baghdad • Post of “Vizier” came to be person who actually ran the government- (helped by Emirs in provinces) • Caliphs became even more prone to opulent lifestyles

25. Economic Changes: Trade and a Global Economy • Empire gave Muslims access to good farmland- but Muslims stuck with what they knew- trade. • Expanded overland routes- connected around empire and into cultures that surrounded them. • Interested in new products and ideas- shared stuff they thought was cool. • Used profits to build schools, inns and hospitals • Became accomplished sailors (interesting) using Dhows to cross Med. Red, Arabian Seas and Indian Ocean. • Created a network of thriving commercial interconnections across the eastern hemisphere

27. Social Structure/women • Arab heritage the foundation of Islamic culture. • Adopted slavery (not common for Bedouin, though it had existed in towns) Valued educated, talented slaves- human rights protected by law. • Traditionally women had a strong place in society- and had been the core of Muhammad’s early followers • As Arabs became more “civilized” (from contact with others) women’s power steadily eroded. Began to restrict movement, property ownership, dress requirements, development of Harem

28. Culture Achievements • Learned from cultures as they expanded- assimilated ideas. • Literacy became valued- read Q’uran • Made huge efforts to learn from classical knowledge- esp. Mediterranean (which they helped preserve) and Indian. • Took those ideas as a jumping off point- then took the next step • Not radical thinkers, but brought ideas together : Synthesis

29. Science/mathematics • Built on classical discoveries • Math • Diffused Indian Number system • Created “Al-jabr” (Algebra) • Science: focus on practical knowledge • Optics • Pharmacology • Medicine/Anatomy- first to require doctors be trained to practice • Love Astronomy- invented Astrolabe

30. Literature • Diffused paper from China (better than papyrus for writing) • Greatest literature was in poetry- esp. epic poetry • Loved folktales and storytelling as an art form. (1001 nights) • During Abbasid dynasty- Persian became the language of “courtly love”- especially in literature • Fantastically illustrated books

32. Art/Architecture • Mosques and palaces most elaborate • Cannot show humans (strict observance- no living thing) • Famous for geometric patterns and calligraphy as decoration • Borrowed Columns, Domes and Arches (Persian arch) • Loved fountains and reflecting pools

37. Decline and Fall of the Abbasid • Opulent lifestyle made leaders seem unconnected… (10,000 slaves, 4,000 concubines) and kept taxes high • Conflicts over succession created tension • Slave armies created to support caliphs, ended up ruling the rulers • Nomadic invasions- esp. Turks (eventually settle down and convert) take power from Caliphs and call themselves Sultans • Empire will break apart into sep. sections- still Muslim, but no longer unified or Arab controlled

38. The Crusades • As Turks were taking over- Europe was invading. • Europeans took holy land because Muslims were busy. • Once Turks were in control- they had little trouble pushing the Christians back out. • Impact HUGE for Europe- (introduced paper, gunpowder, chess, coffee, cotton, compass) • Muslims continue trade (primarily w/Italy) after fighting stops

40. Spreading Islam and the Empires: the 2nd wave • Islam continued to grow, both in territory, and in converts. (which came from trade as much as anything)

41. India • Islamic invasions/trade began in early 700s. India was not unified- they would grab bits and pieces of territory. • Real attack came in 11th century under Mahmud of Ghazni- conquered Hindu kingdoms of N. India • India not particularly disturbed by Islamic invasions- they are used to assimilating outsiders- and Muslims are used to converting people- figured Hindus would be no different

43. The Delhi Sultanate • Establish a new Capital in Northern India- rule from 1206-1526. • They are of Abbasid extraction (1st sultan is a former slave army commander) Turks control the Islamic heartland- they are stuck out on their own- makes them a little more creative than other groups • Keep pattern of extravagant courts and large bureaucracies

44. Hinduism vs. Islam • Both side expected the other to blend in- neither one really does it. • To avoid issues- Hindus called “Dhimma” (people of book) but the Caste thing was hard to deal with • Difference in belief and lifestyle more profound than anything Muslims have seen- and Hindus were convinced they were better- saw no reason to change (annoying) • Muslims did get converts- from Buddhists or untouchables- but not what they were used to – two parallel societies • Did do SOME blending (dress, food, art) Muslims picked up some ideas too- married younger, widows could not remarry

45. Bhaktic Cults • Developed by Hindus to help prevent people from converting to Islam (address things Hindus might have found appealing) • Populist organizations with mass appeal- devotional cults to various god/goddess. Stress connection between divine and human. • Used chanting and “enhancements” (drugs) to reach a state of ecstasy (sufi)

46. Southeast Asia • Crossroads for trade and travel. • Diverse population • Multiple religions- polytheistic/Buddhist

47. Trade and Conversion • Muslims traded from India for Spices (cloves/nutmeg) and aromatic woods. • Peaceful conversion- no military aspect. Natives sometimes converted for better trade deals. • Esp. successful in Indonesia and Malaysia (Sumatra and Java) • Sufi (missionaries) showed surprising willingness to adapt to local traditions (matrilineal, women key traders)

48. Africa • Diverse geography (based more on rainfall than temp variations) • Had irregular contact with the classical world (most with Rome) • Rise of Islam create 1st major set of external contact. (they don’t mind crossing deserts- and sail along eastern coast)

50. “stateless societies” • African societies were often semi-nomadic, or decentralized. • Social organizations based on kinship connections rather than formal government. • Not necessarily tribal (larger, more complex, could be 1000s of people) but gov’t not a full time occupation, more a communal society • In many ways parallel to early medieval Europe