Islam Intro to Unit 2
600-1450CE Chapter 6
THE POSTCLASSICAL ERA, 600-1450
The spread of major world religions across political and cultural borders and the development of a new, more regular system of trade that connected much of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The spread of trade helped disseminate religion, and confidence in a divine order helped merchants take risks. A trigger for this change was the economic decline and disorder associated with the decline of the classical empires.
Religion and commerce were the engines of change in the postclassical period. Both facilitated the spread of technologies, ideas, and disease. Even though the classical empires collapsed, the successes of classical civilization encouraged many people to maintain or revive classical forms.
The impact of this time period on the daily life of women was noticeable. The postclassical period saw an intriguing tension on the roles of women as religions insisted on equality but societies clung onto the patriarchal culture.
Big Picture &Background Islam first appeared on the Arabian Peninsula
› Bedouin pastoral nomad tribes Goat and Camels Some small agricultural settlements south
› Towns like Mecca developed along coasts Clan Loyalty and rivalry
› Clans had different Clan Idols Blend of animism and polytheism
Art was largely nonexistent (maybe the Idols) Shaykhs were leaders of the Bedouin Women enjoyed somewhat greater freedoms
Then something changed….
Timeline
Map Exercise Arabia and
Surrounding Area Before and During the Time of Muhammad
Expansion of the Islamic Empire During the 7th and 8th Centuries
Muhammad
(Born 570 Mecca – Died 632 Medina) Founder of the religion of Islam regarded by Muslims
as a messenger and prophet of Allah after receiving a message from archangel Jobril “Gabriel” (610 CE)› The last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of
28 Islamic prophets› Restorer of the uncorrupted original monotheistic faith of
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets Also a diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator,
legislator, reformer, & military general The start of political empires and major culture
change
(P) Political, State-building, Expansion, and Conflict
Mohammad unified the Arab tribes under religion, but would also become a political system:
So, after Mohammad’s Death…Ridda Wars happened to restore unity of the tribes (faith)
Political structures:› Mohammad’s father-in-law Abu Bakr assumed leadership of the
Umma (the faithful, followers of prophet) › Ali (Mohammad’s son-in-law & blood descendant) was passed
over. The catalyst of the Sunni-Shi’s split
Form of Government- Theocracy Empires
› Umayyad Caliphate(661-750) capital in Damascus, captured Mesopotamia, N. Africa, & Persia
› Abbasid Caliphate(750-1258) moved the capital to Bagdad. The first 300 years are known as the zenith of Islamic civilization as a single religious and political entity
(P) Political, State-building, expansion, and Conflict
Revolts and Revolutions-› Hijra- 622 CE (Islam year one)
Mohammad & his followers forced out of Mecca and fled to Medina (200 miles/320kilometres)
622-630 marked with battles with other Arabian tribes Mohammad returned to Mecca with 10k men
Regional, trans-regional, and global structures & organizations
Conflicts or Revolts› The Sunni & Shiite split- 656-661 disputes in Mohammad’s
family led to civil war – when Caliph Ali was assassinated in 661, Shiites believed the Umayyads to be usurpers
› This conflict still remains today…› Umayyad’s extravagance led to the empire’s overthrow in 750› Crusades (1095 – 1291) more detail during Europe
(E) Economic Systems (Creation, expansion, and interaction) Agricultural & pastoral production
› Conquered areas had crops Arabs never seen before: sugar cane, rice, spinach, artichokes
› Shared new crops & farming techniques› Increased food supply = surplus crops growth of cities
Trade & Commerce› Merchants & Landlords grew in wealth & status.› A boat called ‘dhow’ improved sailing, carried goods across
Indian Ocean & Mediterranean Sea Routes Labor Systems
› Slave labor became increasingly important for unskilled work› Craftsman- catering to the wealthy: furniture, carpets, glassware,
jewelry, & tapestries Industrialization
› All the above stimulated new businesses › Cities like Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Cairo grew
(R) Religion & Belief Systems(Development & Interaction of Cultures
Religion(s)- The word Islam comes from the Arabic phrase “to submit to God” Universal & ethnic religion that has diffused around the world › Sacred Place(s) Ka’ba in Mecca, Medina, Dome on the Rock, Masque in Istanbul › Important texts: Quran (Koran), › Belief systems:› Abraham is the patriarch› His son Ismail (Ishmeal) is their direct ancestor› Other major prophets: Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, John the Baptist & Jesus› Muhammad believed he was the last of 28 prophets
Muslims respect Jews & Christians as “people of the book” Term Muslim in Arabic means –”one who has submitted to the will of God”
Philosophies› Five Pillars of Islam- the fundamental obligations of Islam that distinguish it from
Christianity and Judaism› 1. Testimony of faith, 2. Prayer (Daily Worship 5 times a day), 3. Almsgiving (Annual
Tax) 4. Fasting (Ramadan), 5. Pilgrimage (Mecca 1x in life) Ideologies
› Sufism- appeared 700-800CE a mystical tradition of fasting, prayer, & meditation to grow closer to Allah (Prominent in Iran)
› Jihad-
(R) Religion & Belief Systems(Development & Interaction of Cultures Science- Built on the mathematical knowledge of
ancient Hindu scholars› Algebra› Arabic numerals still used today› Optical science, pharmacology, & anatomy
Key Technology- › Borrowed inventions from China:
Paper, Compass, gunpowder, Arts-
› Distinct from most others because of its intricate, geometrically based format Quran strictly forbade the lifelike representation of human
figures esp. of Muhammad or Allah Architecture- Art carried over to public buildings,
colored ceramic tiles, › Domes, Arches, Columns, Minaret(Prayer Tower)
(C) Culture (Development and transformation of Social Structures)
Gender roles and relations› Women- Dress restrictions, appearance in public, modesty, veil
Right to inherit, have dowries, and own property› Men – Male domination was offset by the command to treat women with
respect Family and kinship
› Polygamy up to 4 wives (Concubines, Harem) Racial and ethnic constructions
› Abbasids fully integrated the ‘Mawali’ into the Islamic community Social and economic classes
› Ayans – Land owning Elite. Dhimmis- people of the book were protected (Jews, Christians, & Zoroastrianism) Slaves important as Bedouin settled down.
Language- Arabic was a unifying force in the Islamic caliphates= Quran only written in Arabic
Writing systems- Arabic, paper made sharing of ideas & writing books much cheaper› Many books “Golden Age” (Poetry sung aloud in Arabic-Jalal al-Din al-Rumi)› Many love stories & folktales = “The Thousand and One Nights”
Learning- Madrasas (Universities) Scholars sought to preserve works of the Greek, Roman, and Indian civilizations
(I) Interactions (Interaction between humans and the environment) Demography = Population Increase Migration- of Arabs via the different
Islamic Empires Crusades by Europeans migrating to
Islamic areas between1095 and 1291 not much cultural change.
Patterns of settlement- Nomads became urban
Technology’s impact on environment-
Continuities over Time Dar-Islam developed into one of the most
dominant influences throughout the eastern hemisphere (Eurasia, Africa) › Even through Mongol invasions Dar-Islam
thrived. Dar-Islam - Muslims culture and life styles
Patriarchy Nomadic conflict with settled, advanced,
urban cultures Major cities centers of trade and culture
Change over Time Changing Empires:
› Umayyad 661-750 (Internal Riots by general public because of
› Abbasids 750-1258 (Mongols sack Baghdad)
› Mamluk Dynasty- Mongols who made Egypt the center of Islam culture (sacked by Ottomans later 16th century)
› After Mongols, new empires of Ottomans (Turkey), Safavids (Persia), Mughals (Delhi Sultanate, India) Started in 1300s-1400s
Change over Time Continued….
Increase of long distance trade, interactions of Indian Ocean & Trans-Saharan trade routes creating new trade
Major Comparisons Analyze gender systems & changes Interactions between Jews, Christians,
& Muslims Compare European & sub-Saharan
African contacts with Islamic World