The Arab Kingdom of the Umayyads

HIST 10079/18/13

Shi’ism

• Shi’ite `Ali – Partisans of `Ali• Should the caliph be a descendant of the

Prophet Muhammad?• Ahl al-bayt• Fatima + `Ali• Imamate• When do these ideas develop?

Mu`awiyah and the Umayyads

• Mu`awiyah (r. 661-680)• End of shura, becomes caliph by treaty• Moves capital to Damascus• Return of Arab tribal patriarchy• Strength of the state over religiosity• Jihad state• 674-678 – Siege of Constantinople

Yazid and the Second Fitna

• Yazid b. Mu`awiyah (r. 680-683)• Hereditary Caliphate• What does this do to the caliphate?• Husayn b. `Ali and Karbala (680)• Shi’ism and Martyrdom

Yazid and the Second Fitna

• Revolt of `Abdallah b. al-Zubayr (680-692)• Yazid b. Mu`awiyah (r. 680-683)• Mu`awiyah II b. Yazid (r. 683-684)• Marwan I b. al-Hakam (r. 684-685)• `Abd al-Malik b. Marwan (r. 685-705)• Move from Sufyanids to Marwanids

`Abd al-Malik b. Marwan (r. 685-705)

• Fifth Umayyad Caliph, first to rule a unified caliphate

• Imperial Islam• Syrian military• Arabic as official language• Reformed currency

Dome of the Rock (691)

Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus (completed in 715)

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

Qasr `Amra (early 8th century)

Qasr `Amra

Qasr `Amra

Qasr `Amra

Qasr al-Khayr al-Sharqi