Chapter 6

4 developments define postclassical centuries

1. Islamic civilization spread politically and culturally into Asia, Europe and Africa

2. Civilizations expanded into new world regions3. The great world religions gained acceptance

from peoples who once following local belief structures

4. The creation of a world network linking many of the individual civilizations

World Network develops

• This is the most important characteristic of the Post-Classical World– Trade and Military– Disease

• We are not including America, Polynesia and Australia YET

The decline of Classical

Era

The rise of ISLAM

Post-Classical Era

Islam

• The rise of Islam is one of the things that marks the end of the Classical and Beginning of the Post-Classical Era– The decline of the Islamic empire marks the end of

the Post-Classical Era • New empires develop = Asia, Africa and

Europe

Pre-Islam

• Arabian Peninsula—not a great place to live– Desert– Oasis communities

• Bedouin societies develop– Hunter/Gatherer type society– Merchants because they were traveling from

civilization to civilization • Towns were set up for trade

Life as a Bedouin

• Kinship = Clan• Tribe = Many clans come together during war• Loyalty = survival• Shaykhs = Leaders• Rivalry over water and land between the clans– Made this type of society very weak

Women in Bedouin society

• Played a key role in the clan’s economy• Matrilineal: family line is followed through the

women’s family• Ne veils• Both men and women were allowed to have

multiple spouses

Important cities

Mecca

Medina

Mecca• Established by the

Umayyad Clan– Ka’ba: Bedouin religious

shrine• Polytheistic/Animism• Started with nothing to do

with Islam• Allah was the creator-god.

We don’t know if he was really seen as a supreme deity

Medina

• Agricultural and commercial area• Fighting occurred often between the groups in

the area– Arab vs. Jewish

Muhammad

• Born c. 570 CE• He belonged to the Banu Hasin Clan – Quraysh Tribe

• Merchant in Mecca• Married Khadijah (a widow)• Wanted to bring unity to the tribes– He saw how destructive the fighting was– Monotheism was seen as a way to unite people

The Prophet

• 610 CE he went to meditate and was visited by Gabriel

• As he grew in influence so did the potential for him to be a threat to the status quo

• Islam offers something new to the Arabian People

What does Islam offer

• Umma: “community of the faithful”– Unity– 5 pillars

• Replaces old hate with new unity and a moral system

• Equality under Allah (all believers)• Accepts components of both Christianity and

Judaism

After the death a Muhammad

• Muhammad dies in 632 CE• No successor or rules on who would succeed him• He dies young• The Unity he created starts to falters with his

death• Power Grab– Umayyad took control• Start to spread Islam

Line of succession

• Calph1. Abu Bakr (Ummayad Clan)2. Umar assassinated3. Uthman (Umayyad) Murdered4. Then the issues really start

Uthman Killed

Medina Muslims chose Ali

Umayyad refuse to recognize him

War Ali appears weak and is assassinate

Ma’awiya of the Umayyad tribe “Chosen” Becomes the First Calphate

Sunni: people shouldChoose the successor follow Umayyad

Shi’i: successor shouldBe from the Prophet’s Family. follow Ali

Umayyad Empire

• Conversion not a priority• Grew Larger• 732 Battle of Tours– Islam's advancement into Europe stopped by the Franks

• Were able to gain power in Spain and Portugal• Damascus (Syria) became the capitol• Muslim Arab Elite– Strong Military and bureaucracy

• Ended when the Abbasid Clan defeated the Umayyad

Abbasid Caliphate

• Used the Shi’ite to win but turned against them and supported the Sunni

• More bureaucracy to keep big empire together

• Baghdad capitol• Urban prosperity grew

Dhimmis

• People of the book– Jews, Christians, Zoroastrianism, Hindus– Keep their religion– Had to pay higher taxes

• Malawi: Converts

Changes for women with the Quran

• No adultery for either spouse• One husband– 4 wives if they could be cared for

• No infanticide• Both sexes equal before Allah