Transcript Ummah
The Early Middle Ages (ca. 600-900) The Early Middle Ages How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe? Islam • The Arabian Peninsula – Desert – Home of the Arabs • No centralized authority • Pastoral nomads • Loyal to tribes Islam • Arabian Religion – Animistic, pagan – Mecca • Commercial, religious center • Ka’ba – Pilgrimage site – Brought money to city Ka’ba Islam • Muhammad (570-632) – Involved in Meccan caravan trade – Pious – Night of Power (ca. 610) Prophet of Islam – Preached, made converts Muhammad visited by Gabriel Islam • Islam on the Rise – Converts UMMAH – Overall response to Prophet was negative – Flight of Muhammad • Invited to Medina • Hijrah (622) • Gained power base, subdued enemies Islam • The Return to Mecca – Ummah wanted to see city converted – March on Mecca (630) • Muhammad, 10,000 men • Offer made to city, accepted by religious leaders • Muhammad entered city, cleansed Ka’ba March on Mecca Islam • Questions? Islam • The Quran – Muhammad’s revelations – Significant teachings • • • • Absolute monotheism Jesus: “apostle” “People of the Book” Judgment Paradise, Hell Islam • The Five Pillars – “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet” – Prayer – Ramadan – Alms levy – Pilgrimage Islam • Talbiyah – “Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayk. La shareeka laka. Labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-n'imata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak.” – "Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners." Islam Islamic Conquests (622-733) Islam • Why the Successful Conquest? – Arabs were fighters! – Exhausted opponents – Toleration of other monotheists • No forced conversions • Relied on other monotheists’ leaders • Non-Muslims not equal to Muslims Islam • The Caliphate – Muhammad died 632 – CALIPHS • Prophet’s successors • First were early converts, from his inner circle (Rashidun) • Office: political, religious Islam Islam • The Great Civilization – Sophisticated, advanced – Access to classical learning – Books, libraries – Contributed to science and math – MOSQUES Islam • Dome of the Rock (687-692) – Tribute to Islam’s triumph in Jerusalem – Erected on sacred site – Domed octagon Islam Minarets at Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Islam • Status of Women – First convert: Khadijah (d. 620) – In the Quran • • • • Khadijah Men superior to women Infanticide banned Polygyny permitted Some inheritance rights Islam • Questions? The Byzantine Empire • The Byzantine Empire – Remnants of Eastern Roman Empire – Constantinople survived – Strong army, navy – “GREEK FIRE” • Weapon at sea • Combustible! The Byzantine Empire Greek Fire The Byzantine Empire • The Iconoclastic Controversy – Emperor ordered destruction of icons (726) – Controversy: iconoclasts vs. iconodules – Iconoclasm condemned at Nicaea II (787) – Iconoclasm resurged, condemned for good 843 Virgin and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, 6th or early 7th cent. The Byzantine Empire • Questions? The Rise of the West • The West during the Early Middle Ages – Italy, British Isles, Spain, Kingdom of the Franks – Traits of West • Impoverished, fragmented • Roman cities were shadows of antiquity • Disintegrated infrastructure – Yet West came to dominate the world! The Rise of the West • Kingdom of the Franks – Dominant in Western Europe – Unified by 700 – Catholic – Ruled by Merovingians The Rise of the West • The Carolingians – CHARLES MARTEL (d. 741) • Frankish statesman • Halted Muslim advance at Tours (732-33) Battle of Poitiers – Family deposed last Merovingian king – Allied with papacy The Rise of the West • Charlemagne (r. 768-814) – Devoutly Christian – Promoted education – His government • Ruled “by God’s will” • Local rule: counts • Missi dominici The Rise of the West • Emperor Charlemagne – Pope in trouble, fled to Charlemagne – Pope returned to Rome with Frankish escort – Charlemagne followed, crowned “augustus” (800) – Emperor Charlemagne and “new” Roman Empire? The Rise of the West • The Empire’s Disintegration – Divided into three – Centralized government vanished – Foreign invasion, fragmentation collapse (late 9th cent.) The Rise of the West • Questions? The Early Middle Ages How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe?