feudalism interregional trade religion expansion diffusion
DESCRIPTION
The First Global CivilizationTRANSCRIPT
Period 3: Postclassical 600-1450 CE
FIRED
Feudalism Interregional tradeReligionExpansionDiffusion
Post Classical Era &The Rise and Spread of Islam
The First Global Civilization
I. Pre-Islamic ArabiaA. Clans nomadic kinship clans Shayks were leaders of tribes; warriors highly valued lack of unified cultureB. Towns & Trade Towns emerged as oases on caravan routes Mecca: wealthy center of trade & religion
Marriage & Family Matrilineal Society as nomads Women’s rights depended on clan/tribe Men more valued as warriors Polygamy favored inequality
Culture & Religion Strong oral literary tradition polythestic religion Moral and Ethical code provided by tribal custom Kaaba
Rise of Islam Muhammad merchant, married to wealthy widow 610 CE- claimed to have visions A. Persecution & Victory Muhammad fled home city of Mecca- Hijra 622 Returned to Mecca- forced monotheism
Arabs & Islam Arab monotheism became conquerors of ME Provided universal ethics, equality, charity
Universal Elements- R Monotheistic: Allah Book: Qu’ran Egalitarianism-equality of believers Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Fast, Zakat, Hajj 5 ps: Profession of faith, Prayer, poor, pilgrimage to
Mecca, painful fasting- PILLARS
Arab Empire under Ummayads Consolidation & Division- P Muhammad dies(632) CONFLICT!!!- resolved by military under the
leadership of Abu Bakr, the new caliph (“king”)
Raided and conquered surrounding Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian territories
Problems of Succession Reemerge- Who’s in charge?
656 CE Murder of Uthman, 3rd Caliphate Ali (descendent of Muhammad) reemerged as
successor With support of Egypt, Mu’awiya proclaimed
succession in 660; Ali, family assassinated Create Sunni- supported the Mu’awiya & Shi’a-
supported Ali split Relocated capital to Damascus, Syria; built
bureaucracy led by Arab Muslim military aristocracy
Cultural Diffusion conquests from Spain to Central Asia- see map Three Methods of Spread:
Military Merchant Missionary
Arabic language spreads with Islam Technology diffusionConverts & People of the Book Christians and Jews- okay- people of the book- BUT
they were charged a “head tax”
Family & Gender men allowed 4 wives Strengthened rights of women’s inheritance, divorce Syncretism create more isolation for women
Umayyad Decline Increasing luxury
Abbasid & Spread of Islamic Civilization
Chapter 7
The Abbasid Empire Abbasids by 750 had defeated Caliph Baghdad as Sunni capital Established Wazir, chief administrators, to
oversee enormous bureaucracy
Islamic ConversionExempt Muslims from taxes, offered opportunities
in schooling, gov’t
Town & Country Great urban, economic expansion Muslim merchants, used technology (dhow), Slaves served caliphs, officials Countryside dominated by soldiers, merchants
Mid to Late Abbasid ErasAbbasid Decline
Problems of Succession Foreign Influence: Slave Mercenaries,
Eunuchs, Concubines & Persian advisors
Imperial Extravagance: Monumental building & living = Increasing taxes
Social Unrest: Food riots, pillaging, Shi’a rebels
Declining Treatment of Women Harem: Wives & Concubines of caliphs
restricted areas of palace Slave concubines more freedom than
wives as non-Muslim Rich women married at puberty, no career
outlets, less education, limited outside contact
Low class women needed to support families
Abbasid Loss of PowerMid 10th Century Independent.
Kingdoms broke away; Egypt & Syria945: Buyids of Persia took Baghdad;
took title of sultan1055: Seljuk Turks, provided strong
political authority against Egypt & Byzantine
Still ruled in Abbasid name
CRUSADES
. Christian Crusades8 Crusades led by knights of w.
Europe; began 1096 to recapture Holy Land
Influenced Europe: weapons, buildings, lost Greek learning, Math & Numbers, Rugs & Textiles, Chess, Chivalry and Food
Muslims took little from West & removed influence by 1291
Flowering of Islamic Learning
Persian Literature- Persian replaced Arabic language for culture
Islamic focus on religion, philosophy, legal codes
Also building, science, medicine, mathematics Numbers, astronomy, printing, gunpowder from
India and China Navigation, Trade Uses
Cont.
C. Religious Trendsstrict adherence to Qu’ran promoted
by mullas/ulama
Sufis: wandering mystics seeking personal connection with Allah; primary source of religious expansion
Cont.
D. End of the Caliphate1220s Chinggis Khan & Mongol
moved from central Asia through Turko-Persian regions
1258 Baghdad sacked, last Abbassid caliphate executed