Transcript Historical Background and Context for Middle East History

Historical Background and Context for
Middle East History
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Rise of Islam
Early history – political implications
Spread of Islam
The Ottoman Empire circa 18-19th
centuries
The Rise of Islam
• Arabian context
• Muhammad the
prophet
• The message
The Rise of Islam
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Political implications
Islam the religion
The Quran
The appeal of Islam
Periodization in the History of
the Islamic Middle East
• Antiquity: from the rise of civilization to the coming of
Islam
• Classical Islamic period: from the life of the
prophet Muhammad to the middle of the 10th century
A.D.
• The early medieval era: from about 950 to about
1250
• The late medieval era: from about 1250 to about
1500
• The early modern era: from about 1500 to about
1800
• The modern Middle East: from about 1800 to the
present
The Expansion of Islam,
632-733 A.D.
The Spread of Islam
• Umayyads – Damascus,
661-749
• Abbasids – Baghdad, 7501258
• Islamic state and society
• 1258-1700s – Mongol
invasions; fragmentation;
Mamlukes
• 1300s – rise of the
Ottoman Turks
Baghdad
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
• Key dates:
– 1453 (Mehmet II)
– 1514 (Selim I)
– 1529 (Suleyman)
• Source of power
– Military
– Ruling strategy
– Local autonomy
• Distinguishing characteristics
– Polyethnic and Tolerant
– Flexible
Suleymaniye complex, Istanbul
Ottoman Empire, cont.
• 4 principles of rule:
– 1) expansionary
– 2) notions of dynasty,
rights, responsibilities
of rulers as Islamic
figures
– 3) tolerance of local
practices and customs
– 4) division of society
into ruler/ruled
Ottomans: State and Society
• Land and
revenue
• Islamic law
• Sunni
legitimacy
• Military
• Government
• Ottoman culture
Suleyman the Magnificent
"I, the Sultan of Sultans, the leader
of the lords, the Khan of the
sovereigns of the world, the
shadow of God on earth, the
Sultan and Padisah of the
Mediterranean and Black sea,
Romania, Anadolu, Karaman,
Diyarbakir, Iran, Azerbaijan, Syria,
Egypt, Mecca, Medina, and all
Arab lands. I am Sultan Suleyman,
the son of Selim Han, and you
Francis, King of the province of
France. You have send a letter to
my court informing me that the
enemy has entered your country
and imprisoned you. Asking for
grace and support, hoping for your
freedom. Now, it is not befitting for
rulers to cower, and to be
imprisoned. Keep your spirits high,
you will learn our decision from
your men. (Letter from Suleyman
the Magnificent to Francis I, King of
France, 1536)