History of the Community from about 700 to 1700CE

Chapter 4, Expansion and Flowering

Muslim lands about 800 CE

Muslim Lands in 1250 and 1500 CE

The Spread of Islam: main phases 1. First phase – to c. 660 (end of the first fitna)Syria, Iraq, most of Iran, Egypt and N. Africa to Tripoli (see

previous session) 

2. Second phase – c. 660-c720Rest of Iran, into Central Asia, Sind, rest of North Africa, Spain

(see previous session)

3. Third phase – c 1000-1600Anatolia/Balkans: 1071-1453 (Fall of Constantinople) Central Asia: further northIndia: 1030( Lahore; Delhi, 1209) – c 1500 Southeast Asia: c 1290 – c 1550Sub-Sahara Africa: 11th century – 16th century and continuing

(parts of E. Africa earlier) 

Intrusions and retreatsCrusades: 1099-1291

Relatively unimportant at the time, more important for “Franks”

Mongols 1227-1260 Massive disruption; Mongols

eventually converted and IslamicizedSpain 1085-1492

“Reconquista”; very important for Spain; less so for most of the Islamic world

Main dynasties Umayyads 660-750Umayyads of Andalus 756-1031Abbasids 750-1258Fatimids 969-1171Ghaznavids 961-1186Mamlukes 1250-1517Saljuks 1055-1258Mongols 1258-1370Sultanate of Delhi 1206 (or 1209)-1526Ottomans 1281-1924Safavids 1501-1738Mughuls 1526-1857

Table of dynasties from 7th century AD (1st H) to 16th century AD (10th H)

Main Ethnic Groups (esp. in central Islamic lands)

“O people, we have created you from a male and a female

and made you nations and tribes, so that you may come to know each other.

Certainly the most noble of you in God’s sight is the one who most fears Him. God is Wise and All-knowing.” (Qur’an 49:13)

“We have made it a recitation (Qur’an) in Arabic so that you may understand.” (Qur’an 43:3)

ArabOriginal MuslimsDominant through Umayyad periodArabic continues the main language for ritual and

scholarship.Persian

Converted earlyPersian ideas about government and administration

influential from later Umayyad period onPersian language and culture reasserts itself from 9th

century on. Becomes the main language of culture in Persian and

Indian areas.Important in Ottoman, Safavid and Moghal empires.Important language for Sufism.

TurkMamlukes in Abbasid empire from c 800.Turkish dynasties: Saljuks, Ottomans, Uzbeks and

othersTurkish becomes an administrative, literary and Sufi

languageMongol

Invaded Islamic lands. Converted to IslamIl-Khans ruled to 1370Continuing influence on government and culture“Turco-Mongol” dynasties (e.g. Mughals)

Others include: Berber (N. Africa and Andalus) Kurd (e.g. Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi al-Takriti)Circassian (from the Caucasus, many were Manlukes,

esp in Egypt and Syria 1382-1517)Indian ethnic groupsMalays African ethnic groups

Outline of political History (Mainly the Central Lands)

Later Umayyads Administrative reforms. More forceful control of tribes. Independent scholars: of Qur’an, ḥadīth, beginnings of Fiqh,

Kalam Disaffection of mawālī and Arab tribes. 

Early Abbasids (750-945) Capital shifted to Baghdad Persian ways continue to be adopted Administration more complex – wazīr (vizier) Islamic high culture develops Sunni collections of ḥadīth and basic works of fiqhMiḥna: ‘ulamā’ authority strengthened Translations of Greek philosophical works Recruit Turkish Mamlukes (840-) Caliphs lose effective power in provinces by 935

Ribat, Sousse, Tunisia. Founded in 821. Ribats were forts and residences for warriors who both engaged on devotional practices and fought in jihad, defending the city (in this case from Christians on the other side of the Mediterranean) and propagating the faith within in the country.

Independent realms (some nominally recognized the Abbasid caliph):Andalus (711-1492)

Umayyads (756-1031)Egypt: Tulunids (868-905)Iran (from 821):

Saffarids (873-900) and Samanids (900-99) stimulate Persian culture.

Inside the Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, Cairo, 9th century. Ibn Tulun, son of a Turkish slave, was governor of Egypt who and made himself effectively independent of the ‘Abbasids. Their continuing influence at another level is suggested by the minaret, which resembles and is said to have been consciously pattern on that of the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Shi‘i political movementsHamdanids (905-1003)Buyids in Baghdad (945-1055)Qarmatis (900-1077)Fatimids (909 in Tunis / 969-1171 in

Egypt)Nizaris, “Assassins” (1094-1256, and

after in different form)Shi‘i scholarship begins to flourish

(10th century)

Later Abbasid period (1055-1258)Saljuk Turks effective rulers (sulṭāns) in

Baghdad (1055)Defeat Byzantines at Manzikert (1071)

Ghaznavids (961-1186) Afghanistan and Iran

Crusades (1099-1291)Salah al-Din and Ayyubids (1171-1250)

in Egypt and SyriaMamluks (1250-1517) in Egypt and

SyriaBuilding of madrasas

 Mongols and after

Chinggis Khan (d 1227) unified Mongols

Baghad taken 1258; defeated at ‘Ayn Jalut 1260.

Il-Khanids to 1336; lands then dividedTimur: conquests 1379-1402Timurids (c1402 - c 1508)

Later Empires:Ottoman 1281-

Take Constantinople 1453Take Syria and Egypt 1516- 7Beseiged Vienna 1529, 1683

Safavid (1501-1736) in Iran, Shi‘iSultanate of Delhi 1206-1526Mughals (1526-1858)

Akbar (r. 1556-1605) (cf. Elizabeth I of England,1558-1603)

Aurangzeb (r. 1658-1707)

God’s promise to the umma.

Power and glory belongs to God, and to His Messenger, and to the believers. (Qur’an 63:8)

You are the best nation (umma ) ever brought forth to humankind, commanding right conduct, forbidding indecency, and having faith in God. (3:110)

This promise appeared largely to have been fulfilled as of c 1000 Hijri (1592 CE)

Allegorical representation of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and the Safavid Shah ‘Abbas of Persia, Mughal, ca. 1618. Courtesy of Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.: Purchase, F1945.9a

Reflections on the Mughal image: Sense of confidence, stability and

dominanceMughal Emperor’s dominance over Safavid:

relative size, position of lion and lambWestern influence (?): cherubs, lion and

lamb.