The Rise of Islam

Middle East, ca. 600 A.D.

Pre Islamic Arabia

Caravan Culture

Tribal organization

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Violent, warrior states based on vendetta culture

ghazu (raids) on caravans

Patriarchal

The Ka’aba in Mecca

Origins of Islam

Beginning of His Ministry Muhammad in Mecca The Hijra Umma: community of

believers

The Quran Record of revelations

received during visions

Committed to writing c. 650 CE (Muhammad dies 632) Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith

Five Pillars

Confession of faith Prayer 5 times a day Charity to the needy Fasting during themonth-long Ramadan Pilgrimage to Meccaat least once duringone’s lifetime

Early Problems Succession

– Mohammed had no surviving male children

generated a permanent split in the Islamic community– Sunnis– Shi’as

Islam, Women, and Slaves

Qu’ran improves status of women– Outlawed female infanticide– Brides, not husbands, claim dowries– Rights under Islamic law

Yet male dominance preserved– Patrilineal descent– Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden– Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice

Slavery

Umayyad Policy toward Conquered Peoples Favoritism of Arab

military rulers causes discontent

Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims

Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims

Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority

The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE) Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab,

allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims

Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia

Defeats Umayyad army in 750– Invited Umayyads to

banquet, then massacred them

– Only Spain remains Umayyad

– North Africa is disputed territory, ultimately Fatamid

Mosque of Abu Abbas al-Mursi in Alexandria

Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty

Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab)

Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion

Dar al-Islam Growth through military

activity of autonomous Islamic forces

Abbasid Decline

Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid

Provincial governors assert regional independence

Dissenting sects, heretical movements

Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility

Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power behind the throne

Crusades

Imperial Breakdown

Problems with rural population

Declining position of women

Nomadic Incursion Impact of Christian

Crusades

Reasons for Islam’s success

exhaustion of Rome and Persia– End of a 400 year war

nationalist sentiments in Egypt and Syria arguments among Christian factions speed and size of Muslim armies simplicity and uncomplicated nature of Islam acceptance of the Old and New Testament

– People of the Book

Consequences of Islamic Expansion loss of the oldest and most central lands of

Christendom aided the ascendancy of the bishop of Rome virtual collapse of Zoroastrianism as a major religion radically altered the balance of power between the

Roman Empire and the East disruption of the Mediterranean economic community

Re-centering of Islam

No religious center Madrasses Sufi brotherhoods

– Asceticism, mysticism– Some tension with

orthodox Islamic theologians

– Wide popularity

Cultural influences on Islam

Persia– Administration and

governance– literature

India– Mathematics, science,

medicine• “Hindi” numbers

Greece– Philosophy, esp. Aristotle– Greek medicine

Rome and Byzantium– Architecture

Islamic Art and Architecture

Found all over the world

Influenced from other classical traditions

Expression of divine presence

Both secular and religious

Major practices: – Metalwork– Pottery– Painting– Calligraphy– rugs

Dome of the Rock,

Temple Mount Jerusalem

The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Islamic Civilization Law and Dogma

– Shari’a: Codification of Islamic law

– Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools of analysis

– Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of human activity

– This is the basis the idea of an “Islamic republic” for instance

Converts and Cities Persian Literature Scientific Achievements

A depiction of a Medieval Islamic astronomer. Thought by some to represent Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi.