Islam

Kaaba

Islam

Beliefs

Impact on Trade

FoundingEurope

Empire

India

Sects

Southeast Asia

Africa

Becomes Political

Pre-Islamic Arab World

• Bedouins• Camel herding• Agriculture• Clan Identity• Towns • Long-distance trade

– Mecca

Marriage and FamilyPre-Islamic Arabia

• Economic role– Milking camels– Weaving cloth– Raising children

• Rural areas– Matrilineal– Polygamy for both sexes– Man paid dowry

• Not veiled or secluded• Status determined by custom• Urban areas

– Patrilineal– Male polygamy

Founding

• Muhammad • 622 CE• Hijrah—from Makkah

to Medina

Beliefs• Monotheistic• 5 Pillars of Islam

– Alms-Zakat– Fasting– Prayer – Faith-Shahara– Haj

• Jihad—• People of the Book—dhimmi status

Sects

• Shi’ia-bloodline• Sunni-elected • Sufis-mystical

– Whirling Dervishes

Empire Building Umayyad-661-750

• Sunni• Series of alliances bring stability to Islamic

community• Capital—Damascus

– Center of Learning– Exposed to Hellenistic traditions

• Eastward to India and China• Westward to North Africa and Spain• Battle of Tours• Stressed political not religious aspect of office

• Dar-al-Islam—lands ruled by Islam• United lands they ruled

– Arabic official language– Minted Arabic currency– Road building– Postal routes– Civil service– Improved conditions for non-Muslims

• Opposition from religious and political groups—Abbasids most powerful one

Abbasids750-1258

• Capital Baghdad– Center of banking,

commerce, crafts• Caliph Harun al-

Rashid--high point • Battle of Talas River

ends Tang spread• 1258-Mongol assault

• Ulama —learned official with religious knowledge

• Qadis -judges set moral standards and resolved disputes

• Relied on Persian techniques of administration

Abbasid Administration

TradeOverland

• Trade cities brought under Islamic control

• Silk Routes• Maintenance of

roads for military and administration

• Camels and caravansaries

Maritime • Mediterranean and Indian Ocean

Routes• Compass-China• Lateen Sail-Southeast Asia and India• Astrolabe-Hellenistic mariners    

Impact on Trade1300’s

Women

• Muhammad’s wife a wealthy widow• Women’s rights• Contact with Syria and Persia• Veiling

Cultural Influences

Persian• Administration• Al Ghazzali -denounced Greek philosophers• Language-literature, poetry

– Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Greek• Philosophy

Arab• Ibn Sina [Avicenna]• Al Razi

Europe

• Spain—Moors• 732 • Battle of Tours

TurksSeljuks 11th-14th century

• Steppe people• Hired by weak Abbasid rulers to fight in

army• 1000 moved from central Asia into Middle

East• Restored Sunni caliphate• Gained control of main trade routes• Used wealth to build an empire• Defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert

1071• Conquest of Palestine led Pope Urban II to

call for first crusade