Period 3: Postclassical 600-1450 CE

FIRED

Feudalism Interregional tradeReligionExpansionDiffusion

Post Classical Era &The Rise and Spread of Islam

The First Global Civilization

I. Pre-Islamic ArabiaA. Clans nomadic kinship clans Shayks were leaders of tribes; warriors highly valued lack of unified cultureB. Towns & Trade Towns emerged as oases on caravan routes Mecca: wealthy center of trade & religion

Marriage & Family Matrilineal Society as nomads Women’s rights depended on clan/tribe Men more valued as warriors Polygamy favored inequality

Culture & Religion Strong oral literary tradition polythestic religion Moral and Ethical code provided by tribal custom Kaaba

Rise of Islam Muhammad merchant, married to wealthy widow 610 CE- claimed to have visions A. Persecution & Victory Muhammad fled home city of Mecca- Hijra 622 Returned to Mecca- forced monotheism

Arabs & Islam Arab monotheism became conquerors of ME Provided universal ethics, equality, charity

Universal Elements- R Monotheistic: Allah Book: Qu’ran Egalitarianism-equality of believers Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Fast, Zakat, Hajj 5 ps: Profession of faith, Prayer, poor, pilgrimage to

Mecca, painful fasting- PILLARS

Arab Empire under Ummayads Consolidation & Division- P Muhammad dies(632) CONFLICT!!!- resolved by military under the

leadership of Abu Bakr, the new caliph (“king”)

Raided and conquered surrounding Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian territories

Problems of Succession Reemerge- Who’s in charge?

656 CE Murder of Uthman, 3rd Caliphate Ali (descendent of Muhammad) reemerged as

successor With support of Egypt, Mu’awiya proclaimed

succession in 660; Ali, family assassinated Create Sunni- supported the Mu’awiya & Shi’a-

supported Ali split Relocated capital to Damascus, Syria; built

bureaucracy led by Arab Muslim military aristocracy

Cultural Diffusion conquests from Spain to Central Asia- see map Three Methods of Spread:

Military Merchant Missionary

Arabic language spreads with Islam Technology diffusionConverts & People of the Book Christians and Jews- okay- people of the book- BUT

they were charged a “head tax”

Family & Gender men allowed 4 wives Strengthened rights of women’s inheritance, divorce Syncretism create more isolation for women

Umayyad Decline Increasing luxury

Abbasid & Spread of Islamic Civilization

Chapter 7

The Abbasid Empire Abbasids by 750 had defeated Caliph Baghdad as Sunni capital Established Wazir, chief administrators, to

oversee enormous bureaucracy

Islamic ConversionExempt Muslims from taxes, offered opportunities

in schooling, gov’t

Town & Country Great urban, economic expansion Muslim merchants, used technology (dhow), Slaves served caliphs, officials Countryside dominated by soldiers, merchants

Mid to Late Abbasid ErasAbbasid Decline

Problems of Succession Foreign Influence: Slave Mercenaries,

Eunuchs, Concubines & Persian advisors

Imperial Extravagance: Monumental building & living = Increasing taxes

Social Unrest: Food riots, pillaging, Shi’a rebels

Declining Treatment of Women Harem: Wives & Concubines of caliphs

restricted areas of palace Slave concubines more freedom than

wives as non-Muslim Rich women married at puberty, no career

outlets, less education, limited outside contact

Low class women needed to support families

Abbasid Loss of PowerMid 10th Century Independent.

Kingdoms broke away; Egypt & Syria945: Buyids of Persia took Baghdad;

took title of sultan1055: Seljuk Turks, provided strong

political authority against Egypt & Byzantine

Still ruled in Abbasid name

CRUSADES

. Christian Crusades8 Crusades led by knights of w.

Europe; began 1096 to recapture Holy Land

Influenced Europe: weapons, buildings, lost Greek learning, Math & Numbers, Rugs & Textiles, Chess, Chivalry and Food

Muslims took little from West & removed influence by 1291

Flowering of Islamic Learning

Persian Literature- Persian replaced Arabic language for culture

Islamic focus on religion, philosophy, legal codes

Also building, science, medicine, mathematics Numbers, astronomy, printing, gunpowder from

India and China Navigation, Trade Uses

Cont.

C. Religious Trendsstrict adherence to Qu’ran promoted

by mullas/ulama

Sufis: wandering mystics seeking personal connection with Allah; primary source of religious expansion

Cont.

D. End of the Caliphate1220s Chinggis Khan & Mongol

moved from central Asia through Turko-Persian regions

1258 Baghdad sacked, last Abbassid caliphate executed