Islam: the First Global Civilization

Chapter 6

Rise & Spread of Islam: Chapter Summary

7th century CE (600’s):Followers of Muhammad surged from Arabian peninsulaCreated first global civilization by incorporating elements of Greece, Persia, and EgyptProvided links for exchange between “civilized” centersUnited in belief of Muhammad’s messageDivided by cultural and political rivalriesStrong until 14th century (1300’s)

Pre-Islamic Arabian WorldArabian peninsula inhabited by BedouinsLarger agricultural/commercial areas flourished in south by coastSocial organization:

Mobile, kin-related clans→larger tribal unitsShaykhs=leaders—elected, typically wealthyFree warriors and slavesInterclan rivalry weakened Bedouin society

Pre-Islamic Arabian WorldCities developedTrading system linked Med. to east AsiaMecca:

Most important cityFounded by Umayyad clanSite of religious shrine Ka’ba

MedinaSecond most important cityAgricultural oasis and commercial center

Pre-Islamic Arabian WorldStatus of women

Didn’t wear veilsNot secludedAble to have multiple marriage partnersMen remained superior

Property control, inheritance, and divorce

Did drudge laborMore restricted in urban areas

Pre-Islamic Arabian WorldCulture not highly developed due to isolation and environmentFocused on orally transmitted poetryReligion=blend of animism and polytheism

Some tribes recognized Allah (supreme deity) but largely ignoredMain focus=spirits and natureReligion and ethics NOT connected

Life of MuhammadBorn approx. 570 CEOrphan, raised by father’s familyBecame merchant

Allowed him to observe society undermining clan unityEncountered monotheism

Dissatisfied with his life so went into hills to meditateIn 610, he started having his revelationsLater written down in Arabic and collected as Qur’anFormed basis of Islam

Died in 632Unity threatened but reunited in 633 under Umayyad empire

Arabs and IslamIslam provided way to unite Arabs

System of ethics capable of healing social riftsStrong and wealthy responsible for taking care of weak and poor

Distinct, indigenous monotheism that supplanted and ended clan feudsUmma=community of the faithful

Transcended old tribal clan boundariesAll believers equal before AllahAll faced last judgment by stern but compassionate God

Profits teachings and Qur’an is basis for laws regulating the Muslim faithful

Universal Elements of Islam

MonotheismLegal codesEgalitarianismStrong sense of communityFive Pillars

Acceptance of IslamPrayer 5x per dayFasting during month of RamadanPaying zakat for charityHajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Empire of the UmayyadsAfter Muhammad’s death, campaigns began outside of ArabiaReligious zeal and weak opponents allowed for victories in Mesopotamia, north Africa, and PersiaNew empire=Umayyad

Ruled by warrior elite

From 640’s, gained naval supremacy in eastern Med.Extended conquest to southern Europe (stopped at Poitiers in 732)Byzantines did hold back conquest in Asia Minor and Balkan terrorties

Motivation for Arab Conquest

Sense of common causeRich booty and tribute gained often were more of a motivation than spreading the faith

Later, converts were exempt from taxes and shared spoils of victory

Problem of SuccessionWhen Muhammad died, he had not established a procedure for selecting a new leaderAfter a troubled process, Abu Bakr was chosen as caliphThe murder of the third caliph, Uthman, caused a succession struggleEarliest followers supported Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law (Shi’a)

Still support the right of his descendents after his murder in 661

Umayyads were SunnisPermanent division within Islam between the Sunnis and Shi’as to this day

“People of the Book”First conquered people were Jews and ChristiansLater included Zoroastrians and HindusAll termed DhimmisHad to pay taxes but allowed to retain own religion and social organization

Family and Gender Roles in the Umayyad Age

Initially, favorable status of womenMuhammad and Qur’an stressed moral and ethical dimensions of marriage

Adultery by BOTH partners denouncedMen allowed to have four wives but had to treat them all equallyStrengthened women’s legal rights in inheritance and divorceBoth sexes equal before AllahStrong status did not endure

Umayyad DeclineDecline of Umayyad

Luxury from spoils of war made military weakAlso had retreat from Islamic virtues which led to revolts

Abbasid clan took over and created Islamic empire

Islamic (Abbasid) EmpireSeries of fundamental changes

Increased bureaucratic expansionAbsolutism

Constant presence of royal executioner symbolized absolute power of rulers over people

Luxurious livingMoved capital from Damascus to BaghdadOnce in power, turned against Shi’a and supported less tolerant Sunnis

Islamic (Abbasid) EmpireFirst flowering of Islamic learning

Artistic contributions first in mosque and palace constructionLearning flourished in:

ReligionLawPhilosophical discourseScienceMath

Global ConnectionsFirst global civilization

Incorporated many linguistic and ethnic groups into one culture

– Created Islam– Absorbed precedents from earlier civilizations

in:• Religion• Politics• Art• Science

– Innovative thinking influenced Europe, Africa & Asia

Grand Mosque of Damascus (present day)

Built by Umayyad empire

Dome of the Rock

Temple Mount

Jerusalem, Israel

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (Turks conquered in 1453)

Next time….

• Chapter 7: Abbasid Decline & Spread of Islam to South & Southeast Asia

• Chapter 8: African Civilizations & Spread of Islam