Islamic

Empires Spiritual, Religious, and

Cultural Flowering

Let’s Review: Arabian peninsula Origin

Mecca was a pre-Islamic pilgrimage center – the Ka’ba

Muhammad

1st revelations – 610 CE – dictations of the Quran from “Allah”

Five Pillars of Islam:

1. Shahada – profession of faith

2. Salat – prayer 5X day

3. Zakat – alms giving

4. Ramadan - fasting

5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca

6. *Jihad* – “struggle”

1. Great - internal struggle v. Lesser - Only self-defense, warfare/versus

Hijra – Spread/Migration of Islam to Medina (Muhammad)

Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Islam held together M.E world.

Creation of Umma (community of believers)

1st caliph (elected) Abu Bakr (c.632)

Expansion of Dar al-Islam

Singular language of politics, literature , daily life, etc.

Copied Byzantine/Persian Empires

Opulent court life, monumental architecture and a bureaucracy

Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (c.661) moved the capital moved to

Damascus (Syria) Umayyad Caliphate established

Like all Empires-overextension and taxation issues led to Civil War and fall

of Caliphate

Sunni-Shia division (7th Century)

Growth of Umma Much of N. Africa “conquered” by 711

Conversion of Berbers: Semitic N. Africans

Assimilation through intermarriage.

By mid 8th Century- Arab conquest of Spain

732* Battle of Tours – Halts expansion Westward

Charles “the Hammer” Martel

Abbasid Caliphate c. 750–1258

Named for Muhammad’s uncle – Abbas

Caliphs chosen through heredity bloodline of the Prophet

Capital moved to newly built Baghdad

Ruled heterogeneous peoples - Urged non-Muslims to

convert

Nestorian Christians, Jews and others

played a major role in administration/military

Maintained good (polt.) relationships with locals

Rotation of officers to prevent corruption

Regularized/Equalized taxes No “favoritism”

Abbasid Caliphate at its greatest extent, c. 850.

Territories in dark green were lost early on.

Problems Facing Abbasids Recruiting troops (loyalty problems) Similar to Romans

Mamlūk: Slave troops (Turks)

Rulers became increasingly remote / secular Corruption became widespread locally.

Similar to the 3rd Century Crisis in Rome

Stray from Islamic ideals Erosion of core values (equality and simplicity)

Numerous revolts led to a fracturing of the caliphate

Abbasid Clan (N. Iran) – held power in name until 1258.

Caliph executed by grandson of Chinngis Khan

Islamic Achievements:

Philosophy

European Dark Ages = neglect of intellectual

achievements.

Many in the West more concerned with survival at

the start of the Dark Ages.

Christians/W. European scholars are indebted to

Muslims.

Preserved/translated Hellenistic traditions and

other classics

Córdoba (Spain) Center of learning and

equality.

Islamic achievements:

History Ibn Khaldun 1332-1406

Universal (Cyclical) Theory of History:

Differences between people arise principally

from the differences in their occupation

Ibn Battuta (1304 – 69)- Considered one of the greatest

travelers of all time.

Marco Polo of the Muslim world

1. Settlement

2. Culture 3. Content

4. Conquered

Islamic achievements:

Math, Astronomy, and Medicine

Arabic = language of scholarship

“Arabic numerals” - Adapted, Hindi numerals, decimal system, number zero

Algebra (al-jabr) “restoration”

Heliocentric (Copernican) Theory [16th century] - based upon Arab astronomical findings

Cannon of Medicine – Ibn Sina

Herbal remedies, functioning of organs, fevers, surgery

“Cannon of Medicine and Book of Healing” - Influenced medical science for 300 years

Avicenna – Ibn Sina

City Design and Architecture

Baghdad = Largest city in world (outside China)

500,000 people (25 sq miles)

Religious architecture – mosques.

1325 - Mosque of Djenné

1632 - Taj Mahal (India)

(Outside time period)