arab empire under the abbasids chapter 7 lesson suggestions peoples analysisabbasid empire conflict...

ARAB EMPIRE UNDER THE ABBASIDSChapter 7

LESSON SUGGESTIONS Peoples Analysis Abbasid Empire Conflict Analysis Crusades Change Analysis Position of women in Abbasid society, India before and after Islamic spread Societal Comparison Abbasid Empire and nomadic groups Document Analysis Ibn Khaldun on the Rise and Decline of Empires Dialectical Journal Islamic culture Inner/Outer Circle In Depth: Conversion and Accommodation in the Spread of World Religions

Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 BCE)

Referred to as the Golden Age of Islam

Broke down distinctions between Arab and non-Arab Muslims

Moved caliphate capital to Baghdad (762 C.E)

Became commercial center for trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa


Government

Caliph became more of a king than a spiritual leader

Diwan – council for advising caliph (did not speak directly with leader)

Vizier – Prime Minister of the diwan


Important rulers (Caliphs)

Abu al- Abbas – founder of the Abbasid

Harun al-Rashid (r.786-809 C.E.) – moved dynasty in “Golden Age”

Al-Ma’mun (r.813-833 C.E.) – built astronomy observatory in Baghdad and established foundation to translate classical Greek works

Golden Age of Islam

Society

Considered the most egalitarian of its time

Ideal citizens – judges, merchants, and gov’t officials v. warriors

Slavery was widespread – could not be Muslim. Most slaves served in the army

Golden Age of Islam

Culture Arabs considered the heirs to remaining

Greco-Roman cultureGreek, Syrian, and Persian scientific and

philosophical works were translated into Arabic and eventually found their way back to Europe

Arabic became an international language

Contributions under the Golden Age of Islam

Philosophy

Preserved achievements of classical civilizations

Ibn Rushd spread classical ideas from Spain back into Europe


Science

Accurately recalculate circumference of the Earth

Studies eclipses


Medicine Required doctors to pass difficult tests before

practicingSet up hospitals with emergency rooms


Medicine

Ibn Sima (980-1037 C.E.)Compiled a medical encyclopedia that

emphasized the contagious nature of disease

Showed how disease could be spread through contaminated water

Work became basis for medical textbooks used by medieval European universities


Mathematics

Improved upon works developed by Indian civilization under the Gupta

Al-jabr – Persian mathematician whose work provided the basis for modern algebra


Literature

Qu’ran – regarded as greatest literary work

Omar Khayyam

Works popular in the westWrote Rubaiyat and Tales from 1001

Nights (The Arabian Nights)


Literature

Sadi (1210-1292 C.E)

Rabe’a of Qozdar

First female poetWrote about suffering that love can bring

Considered the Persian ShakespeareWrote Rose Garden


Literature

Al-Mas’udiFirst great Muslim historianWrote Meadows of Gold which provides

for our knowledge of the Abbasid Dynasty


Education

Established universities and libraries in Cairo, Baghdad, Cordoba, and Timbuktu

Emphasis on preserving, translating, and advancing Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and

Indian knowledge


Art and Architecture

Blend of Arab, Turkish, and Persian traditions Used Byzantine knowledge to design domes and

archesCalligraphy

Beautiful writing and patterns to decorate building and art

Forbidden to depict Muhammad and Allah’s creation



Dome of the Rock (691 C.E.) Touches both the Western Wall of the

Jews and oldest Christian churchGreat Mosque of Samarra (848-852 C.E.)

Largest mosque ever constructed

Covers 10 acres of land and contained 464 pillars



Mosque at Cordoba Located in southern Spain Contains 514 columns in work

Decline of the Abbasid Dynasty

Internal problems

Lack of spiritual authority weakened caliphate in competition with rivals

Ex. Umayyad Dynasty in Spain

Ex. Fatimid Dynasty (Shi’ite in Egypt (973 C.E.)


Internal problems

Wealth led to corruption Caliphs awarded positions to favorites

Luxurious life enjoyed by caliph undermined strict moral code

Changes within army and bureaucracy

Shortage of Arabs for qualified positions


Seljuk Turks

Nomadic Group from Central Asia Converted to Islam and flourished as

mercenaries for the AbbasidsMoved into Iran and Armenia as Abbasid

power weakened


Seljuk Turks

Took over Baghdad (1055 C.E.) Leader appointed himself as sultan

(“holder of power”) Abbasid leaders maintained religious

power in areaExerted military pressure on Egypt and Byzantine

Defeat of Byzantine at Manzikert (1071 C.E) helped trigger rally for Crusades

Decline of the Abbasid Dynasty The Mongols

Pastoral people who emerged from the Gobi desert in the 1200s C.E.

Seized control over much of the known world

Brother of Kublai Khan Seized Persia, Mesopotamia, and conquered Abbasid

Originally led by Genghis KhanHelegu

Brutally wiped out those conquered and their lands Eventually converted to Islam and blended with

culture of area conquered

The Crusades – (Middle Eastern Perspective) Crusades (1096 – 1300s C.E.)

Series of wars fought between Christians and Muslims over control of the holy land of JerusalemResulted from calls for help by Byzantine ruler

Alexius I to Western Europe, after defeats from Seljuk Turks Claimed Muslims were desecrating Christian shrines


Islamic world originally taken aback by crusadersSaladin (Salah al-Din)

Claimed title of sultan for the lands of the former Fatamid caliphate

Invaded kingdom of Jerusalem and destroyed Christian forces concentrated there (1187 C.E.)

Showed tolerance to conquered Christians


Results Displayed superiority of Muslim technology

Displayed impact of Muslim culture on the Middle East

Renewed trade and cultural contacts with Europeans

Created a united Muslim group against Christians, created mistrust that survives today

arab empire under the abbasids chapter 7 lesson suggestions peoples analysisabbasid empire conflict...

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