Islam After the Prophet

Review

• Position of caliph created– Economic, social, and political power.

• The Rashidun Caliphate expands the territories of Islam

• The assassination of Ali leads to the creation of the modern sects of Islam

The Umayyad Caliphate

• The Umayyads take power in 661 ACE. Capital moved to Damascus in present day Syria.

Expansion is a primary focus for the Umayyad caliphate

The Umayyad Caliphate• As the numbers of converts to Islam grew,

classes developed => dissension– Arab conquerors– Non-Arab converts– Those that did not convert (dhimmis)

• Tired of being second class citizens, new converts and the Shia join the Abassids and overthrow the Umayyad Caliphate.

The Abbasids

• The Abbasids took power in 750 ACE.– Founder: As-Saffah

• Golden age for learning and science

• Shift the capital to Baghdad

Umayyad leaders retained control of Spain until the Spanish Reconquista!

The Abbasids

• Began converting Turkic PNBs in the Northwest: The Seljuks!

• Battle of Manzikert 1071 ACE => Turks defeat Byzantines

Alp Arslan

Sufis

• Considered mystics, this group aims at living a simple life devoted to Allah.– They choose to live poor, which they believe

makes them more in touch with the sufferings of early converts to Islam.

The Ottomans

• Founded in 1299 by Osman I

• Practiced religious tolerance, but predominantly Sunni.

• Gunpowder Empire

• Very powerful internationally

The Ottomans

The height of the Ottoman Empire (16th-17th centuries)

The Safavids

• Founded in Iran by Shah Ismail in 1501

• Persian culture revival

• Shia dynasty => clashed with the Ottomans

• Gunpowder Empire

The Safavids

• Very powerful and well respected internationally

Modern Islam

• Dress– Not all Muslims cover themselves with a veil. This is a traditional Persian practice.

• Five Pillars

• Food– Eating pork is haraam (forbidden)

• Festivals Dave Chappelle– Aside from being Rick James, he also practices Islam