Transcript Chapter 7
• Which of the following areas of expertise or learning progressed under the rule of the Abbasid caliphate? a) b) c) d) Medicine Law Mathematics All of the above Today 10/11 and 10/15 • • • • • Practice Question Reading Quiz Reading Guide Lecture Exit Objective: You will be able to describe the unique aspects of the Islamic Empire and how it compares to what you have already learned Chapter 7 The Abbasid Dynast The Abbasids • Moved the Capital from Damascus to Baghdad • Created a very large Bureaucracy – Headed by the Vizier Who are the Abbasids • 3rd Abbasid Caliph was al Mahdi – Major love of luxury which caused a lot of corruption – Failed to fix the whole succession problem • Son assassinated • Most Famous Abbasid Caliph was Harun alRashid – 1000 and 1 Nights – Depended on Persian advisors • How does this cause problems later on Video Life under the Abbasids • A LOT of luxury • Palace intrigue • Simulation – Caliph, Vizir, wives, girlfriends, sons, slaves How did life for Muslim women decline as Islam developed • Began women were close to being a man’s equal, but when Abbasid Era was ushered in, their influence/role went down severely – Women were very inferior to men, confined to home, forced to wear veils in public places • Upper Class: – Wear veil and robes in public places – Were confined to home – Had some political influence within the home • Lower Class: – Farmed, woven clothing, or raised silkworms to help support their families – Raised to devote their lives to running their household and serving their husband – Married young (legal age of puberty was age 9) Slaves • Were purchased in non-muslim regions – prized for beauty and intelligence, greater demand for slaves as empire grew • Women who were slaves were often concubines – confined to a wing of the house (of the Caliph/royal official) – but could go to the market free of a veil • Caliphs would prefer to spend more time with their intelligent concubines than poorly educated slaves. Slow decline • By mid-9th century CE Abbasid dynasty had begun to lose control over empire with rebellious governors and new dynasties to challenge them • Buyids of Persia take Baghdad in 945 – This is where the word Sultan comes in • These were the true rulers and the Caliph was just a figure head • Seljuk Turks defeat the Buyids in 1055 – Purged the Shi’a during this time Trade • Urban Expansion linked the revived trading system – Arab dhows: Sailing vessels – Joint Ventures with Christians and Jews – Specialized trade of luxuries for the elites – Growth encouraged handcraft production – Unskilled labor = slaves What cultural achievements did the Abbasid empire make??? • New techniques in investigation • New technology • Preserving learning of Ancient civilizations • 2 discoveries in chemistry – Creation of objective experiment – Al-razi’s scheme of classifying all material substances into 3 categories • Animal, vegetable, mineral • Best hospitals in world • Telescopes and anatomy advances • Muslim scientists work on optics and bladder ailments • Made world’s best maps • Introduced into Islamic world and Europe many basic machines and techniques – Paper making – Silk weaving – Ceramic firing Who were the Sufi and why were they important? • The Sufi’s were wandering mystics – They hoped for personal union with Allah – There goal was this relationship – They will be responsible for some of the spread of Islam during the Abbasids • Later in the Abbasids the Suffist movement will bring a lot of vitality within Islam • Included both Sunni and Shi’a manifestations in its various guises • Some Sufis gained reputations as great healers and miracle workers • Led militant bands that tried to spread Islam to nonbelievers • Used ascetism or bodily denial to find Allah – Meditation, songs, drugs and ecstatic dancing was also used to find Allah What impact did the Crusades have on the Islamic empire? • The Muslims were not as affected as the Christians culturally by the crusades • The Muslims received Greek learning that was recovered by the Christians • Christians took over small kingdoms temporarily, but Muslims under Saladin reclaimed them • Muslims developed a more negative view of the Christians • Europeans borrowed ideas from the Muslims • Italian merchants stayed after crusades diffusing the Arabian economic system • First crusades was most successful due to elements of surprise and lack of political unity • Much of the holy land was captured and divided into Christian kingdoms – It will change back and forth What influence did India have on Islam? • Hindu scholars introduced Arab scholars to their numeral system • Indian algebra and geometry were translated into Arabic for Islamic use • Indian physicians, brought to Baghdad to run hospitals cured many Islamic officials • Indian statecrafts were translated into Arabic for Islamic use • The Indian game of chess traveled to the Arabic people • Arabs who immigrated Indian areas, adopted Indian dress and hairstyles, and ate Indian food • Arab colonies in India provided staging areas for Islam to spread to parts of Asia How did the Muslim views on conversion change over time? • Originally they didn’t want to convert people, because it would mean they had to share their Booty (Umayyads) • Once the Umayyads fell and the Abbasids rose to power, conversion was encouraged • Merchants traded and spread Islam to southeast Asia • As the Islamic people conquered new lands, the religion was adopted Conversion continued • Muhammad wants loyal followers, unity and influence • Umayyads did not focus on conversion instead they focused on getting riches • Wanted more conversion for more unity. Corrupted the religion • Trying to force conversion on Europe but stopped by Christian Knights • Views on conversion remained consistent, while continuing to spread Islam into Africa • Views on conversion weaken due to corruption/internal conflicts