4 developments define postclassical centuries1. Islamic civilization spread

politically and culturally into Asia, Europe and Africa

2. Civilizations expanded into new world regions

3. The great world religions gained adherent from peoples once following local belief structures

4. The creation of a world network linking many of the individual civilizations

Chapter 6, 7, & 8

Political

Difference between the terms Arab and Islam◦They do not mean the same thing

1st Global Civilization◦What do you think this means???

Very unique development of an empire that expanded throughout the known world. Centralization as well as a unifying factor of

Religion Spread very fast

In the beginning

Arab Peninsula◦Bedouin Societies Nomadic

Herders

◦Trade routs◦Clan/family ties

Video

Clan LifeA way to survive in a VERY harsh

environment◦Subsistence living

Water constant struggle

◦Kin related. So Families made up the Clan◦Survival depended on cooperation,

support and loyalty.◦If you were kicked

out of your clan you would most likely DIE

TribesClans were smaller family groupsLarger Tribal groups would come

together in times of hardship and war◦They usually didn’t get along

Tribe

Family Clan

Family Clan

Family Clan

Family Clan

Family Clan

Just a word on CultureClans would feud with each other

◦Could last for hundreds of yearsRevenge is a major part of the

cultureCulture of Violence

◦In order to survive you must win

Power Organization Unlike prehistory nomads, there

is a great variation of wealth and power ◦Even within the clan

Shaykhs

Warriors (and their families)

Slave families

This way of political life begins to change with Mohammad◦He brings the clans together under

one unifying thing Islam Not easy or done quickly Most believe in the 5 pillars Where they diverge is in who should lead

The Life of Muhammad “The hardships of Muhammad’s early life

underscores the importance of Clan ties in the Arabian world”

Muhammad◦Born into a prominent clan of the Quraysh Tribe◦Educated with the clan to be a merchant

During his caravan travels he met Christians and Jews

◦He was aware of the Monotheistic traditions developing

◦c. 610 He started receiving messages from Allah through the angel Gabriel

Muhammad as a Political LeaderMuhammad settled disputes in

Medina making it a stronger community

Umayyad didn’t like this because it threatened their trade

They attack Muhammad and his followers

After victory Muhammad was able to travel back to Mecca to the Kaa’ba

Proved to be strong both as a man and a religion

Something to bring us togetherIslam gave a common identity to

the Arab world◦Umma community of Faithful

This would rise above old tribal and clan boundaries

The Qur’an and Muhammad’s teachings would be incorporated into laws

ISLAMTribeClans

TribeClans

TribeClans

TribeClans

BUT. . .After Muhammad’s death many

of the tribes renounced the faith and tried to return to old ways◦The split◦New leaders needed to be found and

then they had to force those who left to return This was a more Arab empire in the

beginning

Issue of Succession After Muhammad’s death:

◦They had to decide on a Caliph to be the political and religion successor

1st Four Caliph1. Abu Bakr Expansion by the armies

begin2. Omar Captures Jerusalem3. Othman Captures N. Africa, Turkey,

Afghanistan4. Ali Conflict between Sunni and Shia

The SplitShi’a: The successor should be a

member of Muhammad’s familySunni: The successor should be

the strongest◦Umayyads

Umayyad DynastyMu’awiya

◦Opponent of Ali◦Beginning of the Umayyad Line◦Moved the capital to Damascus

Arab conquest that began during the search for a successor continued◦They wanted booty: that means riches

Didn’t worry so much about conversion◦Have to share the booty◦Dhimmi: people of the book

Damascus becomes the political center

Umayyad declineThey began to move away from the

simple, frugal life that Muhammad taught ◦Were very centered around family ties and

nothing elseAbbasids began to grow angry and

wanted power◦Used the Mawali (non Arab Muslims) and

Shi’a to help them gain the power◦Come to dinner◦Reject those that helped them after they

took power

The AbbasidsMoved the Capital from

Damascus to BaghdadCreated 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 al-Rashid◦1000 and 1 Nights◦Depended on Persian advisors

How does this cause problems later on

Death of al Rashid1st civil war over succession

◦End of the real power of the Caliph◦Caliph felt they needed personal

guards Turks became the power center Personal armies (70,000)

Started killing the Caliph they were supposed to protect

All this fighting took a lot of money◦Ran out◦General destruction everywhere

Slow decline Splinter dynasties created own

kingdoms and began to fight for power

Buyids of Persia take Baghdad in 945◦Shi’a ◦Buyids were the Sultan

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

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

Islam in AsiaAs stated earlier people who

made their way into India stayed and were assimilated◦Due to the flexibility of Indian

CultureMuslims enter

◦First time Indians met with a civilization as sophisticated as their own

◦Due to trade

Africa

Africa Really large and spread-out

◦Causes a lot of diversity◦Some places were considered

“states” and others were not

Stateless Societies Organized around kinship or

other forms of obligationLack the concentration of

political power and authorityCan grow very large

◦Usually ruled by counsel or family group There was little concentration of authority

Difficulties Resist external pressuresMobilize for warfareOrganize large building projectsCreate stable conditions for long

distance trade

Why was this so difficult?????

Common ElementsEven though they were so

diverse there were some commonalities◦Linguistic Base Bantu

Understanding

◦Animism Nature, animals, magic

Nubia and Ethiopia

Ghana

Mali

Songhay

Central African States

Swahili States