Transcript Chapter 6 * The Rise of Islam

Post-classical period (600 C. E. - 1450 C.E.)
CHAPTER 6 – THE
RISE OF ISLAM
ARABIAN GEOGRAPHY
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The Arabian peninsula’s
geography had an
enormous impact on its
development.
Surrounding bodies of
water like the Red Sea,
Persian Gulf, and Indian
Ocean allowed contact to
the east and west with
cultures of the Middle
East, Africa, Persia, and
India.
ARABIAN GEOGRAPHY
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The western coast of Arabia
has high mountain ranges
that help create limited
rainfall for agriculture.
There is a broad plateau
stretching throughout the
center of the peninsula with
several oasis towns and
settlements.
However, the vast majority
of the peninsula is marked
by barren and inhospitable
deserts, earning the
peninsula the nickname of
“The Empty Quarter”
PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA
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“All about us is an iron
wilderness; a bare and
black shining beach of
heated volcanic
stones…stubborn as
heavy matter, lying out
eternally under the sanddriving desert wind.”
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Chronicle of early Arabian
traveler.
INHABITANTS OF PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA (#1)
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Most of Arabia was
inhabited by Bedouin
people groups.
These nomadic cultures
were built around
herding and caravan
trade routes across the
Arabian peninsula.
 Bedouin
shepherd
BEDOUIN LIFESTYLE (#2)
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The economic structure and culture of bedouin tribes
revolved around camel and goat herding. Camels were
also vitally important for conducting trade over vast
and arid distances in Arabia and North Africa.
Bedouins lived in kin-related clan groups. These clans
migrated throughout the peninsula looking for
watering holes and grazing lands for their herds.
The harsh terrain and climate made dependence upon
the clan vital and therefore tight bonds of loyalty knit
these clans together.
A CYCLE OF VENGENCE (#3)
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Due to the scarcity of
resources, control of the
watering holes and
pasturelands created
fierce rivalries and tension
between clans.
Warfare between clans
was common and
expected. Over the years a
cycle of war, vengeance
and death emerged
between clans.
A CYCLE OF VENGENCE (#3)
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Tensions were so high that
many times the simplest
disagreement or feud led
to all-out warfare between
clans.
Common examples
included a verbal insult
and loss in a horse race.
Of course, when a clan’s
warriors were killed, it was
required that revenge be
taken.
DIVISION (#4)
The reality of this intense rivalry and hatred
was that pre-Islamic Arabia was extremely
divided among the clans with no sense of
political unity.
 As a result, outside forces from Africa, Judea,
and Persia constantly exploited these divisions
for their own economic gains.
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MECCA AND MEDINA (#5)
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There were a few important
cities in Arabia such as
Mecca and Medina.
Each developed in close
relation to desert oases for
obvious reasons.
Mecca was the most
important city due to the
fact that it was the site of
the Ka’ba, the holiest
shrine in pre-Islamic
Arabia.
MECCA AND MEDINA (#5)
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Prior to Islam, most Arabians
were polytheists. The Ka’ba
housed the many different
statues of the various deities of
Arabia.
Because it was of such religious
significance, it was expected to
be a center of peace and
stability.
Clan feuds and violence were
not allowed in this holy city of
Mecca.
This allowed Mecca to become
very wealthy since people felt
free to trade and conduct
business safely.
MECCA AND MEDINA (#6-7)
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Mecca was dominated by the
Umayyad clan of the Quraysh tribe.
They were probably the most
powerful clan in Arabia due to their
control of Mecca’s wealth. (#6)
The other important city in Arabia
was Medina (at the time, known as
Yathrib). (#7)
Medina was however, governed by
several rival clans, leading to much
violence and not nearly as much
wealth as Mecca. (#7)
Naturally, a competition emerged
between the two cities for political
and economic power.
ARABIAN ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION
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One can see that
Arabian economy
depended largely on the
agricultural cities
scattered throughout
the peninsula as well as
the caravan trade
routes that connected
these cities.
WOMEN’S ROLE IS PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA (#8)
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Like most nomadic communities that we will discuss in this
class, there tended to be greater freedoms for Bedouin
women compared to their counterparts in neighboring areas
like the Byzantine or Sasanian (Persian) realms.
They had important roles in tribe in terms of milking camels,
weaving cloth, and raising children.
Most tribes were matrilineal, because men were frequently
on the move.
They could have multiple marriage partners in many cases
and did not have to wear a veil or practice seclusion.
They also gave advice in tribal councils and composed
poetry.
PRE-ISLAMIC BEDOUIN RELIGION (#9)
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Religion in Arabia prior to Islam was primarily
polytheistic and animistic.
Some tribes, like the Quraysh, worshipped a supreme
god named Allah, but they also acknowledged the
existence of many different dieties.
Many of the gods related to either the night or natural
features (caves, pure springs, groves of trees) that
offered respite from the harsh daytime climate.
Finally, the religion provided no sense of moral or ethical
guidance and was not a very important aspect of daily
life.
CONTACTS BEYOND ARABIA (#10)
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Because of their proximity
to the Middle East, and
the importance of trade
across Arabia, the
peoples of the peninsula
were aware of
monotheistic faiths like
Judaism or Christianity.
Many elements of these
faiths were incorporated
into Islam as that religion
began.
MUHAMMAD’S EARLY LIFE (#11)
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Muhammad’s early life was difficult, to say the least.
His father died before he was born, and his mother died
before the age of 10. Though he was raised by his
relatives, he knew the hardship of being and orphan and
not belonging.
Raised by his uncle, he began to lead a life as a
merchant, making several trips throughout Arabia and
beyond.
In his 20’s, he began working for a wealthy merchant’s
widow named Khadijah, whom he later married.
MUHAMMAD’S EARLY LIFE (#11)
As a merchant, Muhammad would have been
exposed to the political division all throughout
Arabia between warring clans and tribes.
 He also knew that many tribes lived in harsh
poverty at the expense of the wealthy clans that
dominated the cities and urban centers of Arabia.
 Though economically comfortable and sociallt
respected, Muhammad was dissatisfied with his
life and troubled by his social surroundings.
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HIRA, THE CAVE OF MUHAMMAD’S 1ST
REVELATION
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He began spending more time in
isolation, meditating in the hills
surrounding Mecca.
According to Islamic accounts, in
610 C.E., he received his first of
many revelations from Allah
(delivered by the angel Gabriel).
The revelations of the next several
months and years would be
communicated to the peoples of
Arabia in the written accounts that
come to make up the Quran, the
holy text of Islam.
MUHAMMAD’S REVELATIONS (#11)
TROUBLE FOR MUHAMMAD (#12)
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As Muhammad began to teach his new religion to those in
and around Mecca, several converted to the new faith.
However, there was significant opposition, especially from
the clan who dominated Meccan life, the Umayyads.
The main problem with his new teaching was an economic
one for the Umayyads. If people believe his new message,
they will also believe other dieties are false, and stop
coming to Mecca to worship at the Ka’ba. This Umayyads
would miss out on the trade that came with that important
pilgrimmage.
When Muhammad refused to stop preaching this new
belief, the Umayyads began plotting his assassination.
MUHAMMAD’S FLIGHT, THE HIJRAH (#13)
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Because his life was increasingly
threatened, Muhammad had to
leave Mecca. But where to?
The city of Yathrib was wrought
with violent disputes and clashes.
They had heard of Muhammad’s
reputation and prestige and
offered him safe passage to their
city to negotiate their disputes. In
622 C.E., the small Muslim
community fled to Yathrib.
The city changes its name to
Medina shortly after, meaning
“city of the prophet”.
This marks the first year in the
MUHAMMAD’S RETURN TO MECCA (#14)
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For the next 7 years, Mecca and Medina are embroiled in
a war for control of Arabian trade and religion. These
conflicts were known as the Ridda Wars.
Though he was no longer in Mecca, he was an even larger
threat to the Umayyads as their competitor city, Medina,
grew in strength from his leadership.
Muhammad led his followers into battle, outnumbered, yet
they emerged victoriuos and signed a peace treaty with
the Umayyad’s. He returns to Mecca victorious in 629 C.E.
He goes straight to the Ka’ba and destroys all the idols
housed there. He procalims it the holiest shrine for the
new faith and issues the first call to prayer in this holy city,
ISLAM’S OFFER TO BEDOUIN PEOPLES (#15 16)
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Islam offered much to the peoples of Arabia:
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1) A monotheistic faith that belonged to no one tribe and
transcended their divisions.
2) A distinctly Arab faith to rival Christianity and Judaism.
3) A belief in uncompromising monotheism. No trinitarian
view of God and no intermediaries between believers and
Allah.
4) UNITY – The faith created a community bound not by
blood, but belief. Islam calls this the umma, or community
of faithful.
5) Equality of believers and a moral code which stressed
responsibility of believers to care for one another (zakat).
6) A legal code of Islamic law that was based off the Quran.
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM (#17)
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The faith of Islam also incorporated into its beliefs
a set of rituals and beliefs known as the “five
pillars” of Islam. They were:
1) The Shahada (confession of faith) – “There is no God
but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
 2) Prayer – 5x a day facing Mecca.
 3) Fasting – during the holy month of Ramadan
 4) Zakat – a tithe for charity that promoted community
and social responsibility.
 5) Hajj – pilgrimmage to the holy city of Mecca to
worship at the Ka’ba.
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THE SHAHADA
THE HAJJ
MUHAMMAD’S DEATH SPARKS CRISIS (#18)
All of the success of the Muslim conquests under
Muhammad was not to be enjoyed by him for too
long.
 Muhammad grew ill while in Mecca and dies in
632 C.E., initiating a crisis within the Muslim
community.
 Many Bedouin tribes abandoned the new faith that
had just lost its leader.
 The situation was worsened by the fact that
Muhammad had not clearly appointed a successor
or a method by which to choose one.
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THE CALIPHATE (#19)
With no clear leadership announced, there was
bound to be disagreement over who would lead
the Muslim community following Muhammad’s
death….and there was!
 The title of caliph (“Successor”) came down to
2 men:
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 1)Abu
Bakr – a close friend and one of the earliest
converts to the faith.
 2)Ali – Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law.
ARAB RAIDS OUTSIDE OF ARABIAN PENINSULA
(#20 AND 22)
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Over the course of the next several years, Arab forces,
unified by the faith of Islam, continued their expansion out of
Arabia.
Their raids into the Byzantine and Sasanian realms proved
that those empires were severely weakened.
The Sasanian Empire was conquered quickly due to their
failure to take the invasions seriously.
The Byzantine Empire took the threat more seriously, but
had numerous divisions internally. In fact, Christian branches
like the Copts and Nestorians were frequently persecuted
and heavily taxed by the Byzantines, so they welcomed Arab
invasions which promised not only toleration, but less taxes!
Arab attacks brought huge gains for the growing empire.
EXPANSION OF THE MUSLIM EMPIRE (ALSO ON
P. 132)
MOTIVATING FACTORS FOR CONQUEST (#21)
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There were numerous reasons for Arab conquests
outside the peninsula:
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1) Islam provided unity for the first time in Arab history.
2) Conquests were motivation for revenge against other
empires that had always considered the Arabs as backward
and uncivilized.
3) The conquests were a good way to release the pent-up
energies of this martial Bedouin culture.
4) Above all, conquests promised increased wealth from the
rich farmlands and cities that came under Arab rule.
* It is important to remember that conquest WERE NOT about
forcible conversion to the faith of Islam.
THE SUNNI/SHI’A DIVISION (#24)
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After Muhammad’s death, the community was divided over the
question of leadership.
This turned out to be the key issue of division for the Muslim
world.
Though Abu Bakr was initially chosen, many thought leadership
should remain in the family of the prophet and go to his cousin Ali.
Even so, Abu Bakr proved to be very capable and helped heal
some of the rifts in the community.
However, within the next several years, infighting and
assassinations of certain caliphs divided the community for good.
We will look at a handout in class that further explains this
division.
SUNNI SHI’A DIFFERENCES
UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (#25)
By the early 700’s, Umayyad armies had taken
control of the entire Middle East, pushed into
central Asia and India, across north Africa, and
even into Europe by claiming Spain for their
empire.
 No empire had spread so rapidly. All of this
territory was taken in less than 100 years.
 Though Mecca remained the holy city of Islam, the
political capital of the Umayyad rulers was set at
Damascus.
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MUSLIM ARABS DOMINATE THE EMPIRE (#26)
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As the empire grew, it obviously brought in a number of diverse
people groups. Many of these conquered peoples converted to the
new faith.
The Umayyad leaders, who were themselves Arab in ethnicity, set up
a social and political system that would ensure Arab superiority by:
 1) Only extending “first-class” citizenship rights to Arab Muslims.
 2) Keeping high ranking political and military posts for Arabs.
 3) Granting the spoils of war to only Arab warriors.
 4) Providing tax restrictions for Arab Muslims (only the zakat)
*Additionally, the Umayyad leaders tried to keep Arab warriors
stationed together in the towns and removed from the local
population for fear that they would assimilate into foreign cultures.
“PEOPLE OF THE BOOK” (#27)
Under Umayyad rule, a large portion of the
population were still Jewish and Christian
inhabitants.
 Umayyad rulers understood that they needed
their support, so they allowed them to keep
their legal systems in place and worship freely.
 Umayyad rule was accepted because many
times it was much more lenient than previous
regimes.
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TREATMENT OF WOMEN ACCORDING TO
MUHAMMAD (#28)
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Women in the earliest years of Islam continued to exercise
considerable influence. For example:
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1) Muhammad denounced adultery for both husbands and wives.
2) He forbade female infanticide, which was widely practiced in
pre-Islamic Arabia.
3) He allowed his daughters a voice in who they would marry and
strengthened the rights of women in inheritance and divorce.
4) Taught equality of men and women in the eyes of God.
5) Women could accompany men in battle and receive an
education, since knowing how to read was imperative for
understanding the Quran.
6) Women could hold a number of occupations, including
scholarship, law, and commerce.
UMAYYAD DECLINE AND FALL (#29)
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Read on p. 141-143
ABBASID RULE (#30)
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After defeating their Umayyad enemies, the Abbasid’s moved
the capital of the empire to Baghdad.
It was not long before they too surrounded themselves with
luxurious palaces and increasing numbers of harems.
They also emphasized the massive bureaucratization of the
empire by creating thousands of government jobs for legal
counselors, to tax collectors, to soldiers, to engineers, and
wazirs.
A wazir (pronounced va-zeer) was the chief administrator for
the caliph. He oversaw the imperial administration for the
caliphs so that they could focus on producing heirs and
luxurious living.
Wazirs had tremendous power in this new form of bureaucracy.
MASS CONVERSIONS UNDER ABBASIDS (#31)
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Once the Abbasid regime took over, the emphasis on
Arab superiority was discarded since the Abbasids were
not Arabs.
All converts, regardless of their ethnicity were now
welcomed as equals in the faith.
Most conversions were peaceful because of the great
advantages that conversion brought, like tax-emptions
and greater opportunities for advanced schooling and
occupations.
Persian scholars and administrators rose quickly in the
imperial government as a result of the bureaucratic
skills and their ethnic similarities to the Abbasids.
MUSLIM CULTURE AND TRADE FLOURISH (#32)
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Abbasid power brought enormous
urban growth throughout their
lands and a revival of AfroEurasian trade that had declined
with the fall of the classical
empires.
Arab dhows, sailing vessels
equipped with lateen (triangular)
sails helped facilitate more trade
in the Indian ocean.
Muslim, Christian, and Jewish
merchants formed joint trading
companies to conduct business
each day of the week since they
had different holy days.
*The huge profits of
trade were funneled
into urban centers
which flourished during
the Abbasid era.
* Cities were beautified
with the construction of
mansions for the elite,
exquisite mosques,
schools, libraries, bath
and rest houses for
travelers, and hospitals.
MUSLIM CULTURE AND TRADE FLOURISH (#32)
House of Wisdom, Baghdad
*Craftsmanship and
artisan production
soared throughout the
empire.
* Craftsmen throughout
the realms produced
high-quality carpets,
glassware, and jewelry.
* Traders brought
exotic goods from all
over the Afro-Eurasian
world.
MUSLIM CULTURE AND TRADE FLOURISH (#32)
Persian rug
MUSLIM PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT
KNOWLEDGE (#33)
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As the Islamic world spread culturally and politically, one of
their points of emphasis was the preservation and creation
of scientific and mathematical discovery.
The took enormous pride in translating the works of the
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern world to Arabic.
In this way knowledge was not only preserved, but built
upon.
Greek writings on medicine, algebra, geometry, astronomy,
anatomy, and ethics were saved form the fall of the
Mediterranean culture.
They also borrowed from the Indians their numerical system
which was spread throughout the Middle East and Europe.