Islamic Civilization

The World of Islam

Umayyad Dynasty• In 717, Muslims attacked Constantinople, but their

navy was defeated by Byzantines

• Internal struggles led to revolts

• Most important revolt was led by Hussein, 2nd son of Ali/ Most of his followers defected and he fought 10,000 soldiers with 72….All died

• The struggles caused Islam to split into two groups, the Shiite & Sunni

• Split continues today….Most Muslims are Sunnis, but much of Iraq & Iran consider themselves Shiites

Samanid Mosque

In Bukhara

Umayyad MosqueIn Spain

Fatimid Mosque in Cairo

Abbasid Dynasty• In 750, Abu al-Abbas overthrew the Umayyad

dynasty & founded Abbasid which lasted until 1258

• In 762, Abbasid built new capital of Baghdad on the Tigris river/ location took advantage of river & caravan traffic

• Harun al-Rashid led dynasty through golden age/ known for charity and patronage

• Son = al Ma’mun was a great patron of learning

• Baghdad became center of a huge trade empire

Abbasid Dynasty Falls• Abbasid experienced problems; fighting

over succession of caliph

• Vast wealth led to financial corruption

• Shortage of qualified Arabs to fill government positions allowed non-Arabs to become a dominant force in the military & bureaucracy which led disintegration

• Rulers of provinces began to break away

• Spain, Morocco, Egypt = independent with own caliphate

Islamic Society• Muslims live their lives in accordance with Allah’s

teachings revealed in the Quran• Islam claims that all people are equal in the eyes of

Allah/ was not always the case in the Arab empire = well defined upper class of ruling families & wealthy merchants

• Slaves were not considered equal/Muslims could not be slaves/ Slaves came from south Africa or Asia, mostly captives of war/treated pretty well, many were set free

• Women were not treated equal, Quran does not tell men to do so

Islamic Civilization• Arab empire was generally prosperous

• Based on extensive trade by ship & camel

• Camel caravans went to Morocco in far west to countries beyond Caspian Sea

• Trade began to prosper during Abassid dynasty

• Large magnificent cities began to prosper……..Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Cordoba

• Islamic cities had their own physical appearance

• Palace & mosques = most impressive buildings

• Fountains, public baths, bazaars

Islamic Society• Men dominated Arab empire

• Every woman had a male guardian/ Women were secluded at home & kept from social contacts with men outside their families

• Parents arranged marriages for children/ Muslim men could have up to 4 wives\had to pay dowry

• Women covered much of their bodies while in public

• These customs are more connected with Arab practice than to the teachings of the Quran

Islamic Achievements• Medicine = developed medicine as a field of study/

Ibn Sina wrote medical encyclopedia, Canon of Medicine, it showed how diseases could spread

• History = Ibn Khaldun proposed cyclical history, cause & effect, wrote Muqaddimah- Intro to History

• Literature = Quran was main book/ Omar Khayyam wrote Rubaiyat/ Arabian Nights (1001 Nights) collection of folktales & fables that were first told orally & then written down over many years

• Art/Architecture = blends together Arabic, Turkish, & Persian traditions

Islamic Achievements• Art is expressed in Mosques/ decorations =

arabesques- geometric patterns of Arabic letters, plants, & abstract figures

• No representation of Muhammad in any art/ prophet warned against imitating God by creating pictures

• Great Mosque of Samarra is the largest Mosque ever built = present day Iraq, covers 10 acres

• Mosque in Cordoba, Spain = 514 columns make building into a forest of trees\

• Palaces reflected the glory of Islam

• Alhambra in Granada, Spain is finest Islamic palace

Islamic Achievements• Al-Ma’mun’s House of Wisdom = Baghdad, Arab

scholars translated Greek works by Plato, Aristotle, etc./ Mathematics texts were included

• Ibn-Rushd = scholar, wrote commentaries on Aristotle’s works

• Math = created algebra & passed on India’s numbering system known as “Arabic” in Europe

• Science = perfected astrolabe-used by sailors to determine location by looking at position of planets & stars/ observatory in Baghdad where scientists studied and named many stars

The year is 1095 ad….The year is 1095 ad….

And two worlds are about to And two worlds are about to collidecollide

Religion is the center of everyone's Religion is the center of everyone's lifelife

one of the worlds longest and one of the worlds longest and bloodiest battles is about to begin…bloodiest battles is about to begin…

Islam on one side…Islam on one side…

Mohammad

Christianity on the other…Christianity on the other…

The Mission:The Mission:

Capture the city of JerusalemCapture the city of Jerusalem

Jewish Shrine = “Wailing Wall”

Muslim Shrine = “Dome of the Rock”

Christian Shrine = Holy Sepulcher Church

Christian Shrine = Church of the Holy Christian Shrine = Church of the Holy

Sepulcher (down the street)Sepulcher (down the street)

But more than land is on But more than land is on the line…the line…

Warriors on both sides are fighting for Warriors on both sides are fighting for Salvation and their godSalvation and their god……

"This is the noble sword of the house of Muhammad the prophet and the lord Allah."

And they show that on their And they show that on their Weapons….Weapons….

Seljuk Turks & Crusades• Fatimid dynasty became center of Islamic

civilization = important because it was located on Nile river = Cairo

• Created a strong army by non-native soldiers = Seljuk Turks

• Seljuk Turks = nomadic people from central Asia, converted to Islam

• Took over much of Abbasid empire & captured Baghdad; held political and military power

• Turks took over Anatolian plateau, Byzantine empire turned west for help

Crusades• Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Christian states

of Europe for help against Turks

• Europeans agreed and a series of Crusades began in 1096

• Crusaders put Muslims on defensive first

• 1169, Saladin took control of Egypt & ended Fatimid dynasty, took offensive @ Christians

• 1187, Saladin’s army destroyed the Christian forces in the kingdom of Jerusalem

• Main effect of Crusades = centuries of mistrust between Muslims & Christians