4 developments define postclassical centuries

1. 4 developments define postclassical centuries • Islamic civilization spread politically and culturally into Asia, Europe and Africa • Civilizations expanded into new world regions • The great world religions gained adherent from peoples once following local belief structures • The creation of a world network linking many of the individual civilizations

2. Chapter 6, 7, & 8 Political

3. Difference between the terms Arab and Islam • They do not mean the same thing • 1st Global Civilization • What do you think this means??? • Very unique development of an empire that expanded throughout the known world. • Centralization as well as a unifying factor of Religion • Spread very fast

4. In the beginning • Arab Peninsula • Bedouin Societies  Nomadic • Herders • Trade routs • Clan/family ties Video

5. Clan Life • A way to survive in a VERY harsh environment • Subsistence living • Water  constant struggle • Kin related. So Families made up the Clan • Survival depended on cooperation, support and loyalty. • If you were kicked out of your clan you would most likely DIE

6. Tribes • Clans were smaller family groups • Larger Tribal groups would come together in times of hardship and war • They usually didn’t get along Tribe Family Clan Family Clan Family Clan Family Clan Family Clan

7. Just a word on Culture • Clans would feud with each other • Could last for hundreds of years • Revenge is a major part of the culture • Culture of Violence • In order to survive you must win

8. Power Organization • Unlike prehistory nomads, there is a great variation of wealth and power • Even within the clan Shaykhs Warriors (and their families) Slave families

9. This way of political life begins to change with Mohammad • He brings the clans together under one unifying thing  Islam • Not easy or done quickly • Most believe in the 5 pillars • Where they diverge is in who should lead

10. The Life of Muhammad • “The hardships of Muhammad’s early life underscores the importance of Clan ties in the Arabian world” • Muhammad • Born into a prominent clan of the Quraysh Tribe • Educated with the clan to be a merchant • During his caravan travels he met Christians and Jews • He was aware of the Monotheistic traditions developing • c. 610 He started receiving messages from Allah through the angel Gabriel

11. Muhammad as a Political Leader • Muhammad settled disputes in Medina making it a stronger community • Umayyad didn’t like this because it threatened their trade • They attack Muhammad and his followers • After victory Muhammad was able to travel back to Mecca to the Kaa’ba • Proved to be strong both as a man and a religion

12. Something to bring us together • Islam gave a common identity to the Arab world • Umma community of Faithful • This would rise above old tribal and clan boundaries • The Qur’an and Muhammad’s teachings would be incorporated into laws ISLAM Tribe Clans Tribe Clans Tribe Clans Tribe Clans

13. BUT. . . • After Muhammad’s death many of the tribes renounced the faith and tried to return to old ways • The split • New leaders needed to be found and then they had to force those who left to return • This was a more Arab empire in the beginning

14. Issue of Succession • After Muhammad’s death: • They had to decide on a Caliph to be the political and religion successor • 1st Four Caliph • Abu BakrExpansion by the armies begin • Omar  Captures Jerusalem • Othman Captures N. Africa, Turkey, Afghanistan • Ali Conflict between Sunni and Shia

15. The Split • Shi’a: The successor should be a member of Muhammad’s family • Sunni: The successor should be the strongest • Umayyads

16. Umayyad Dynasty • Mu’awiya • Opponent of Ali • Beginning of the Umayyad Line • Moved the capital to Damascus • Arab conquest that began during the search for a successor continued • They wanted booty: that means riches • Didn’t worry so much about conversion • Have to share the booty • Dhimmi: people of the book • Damascus becomes the political center

17. Umayyad decline • They began to move away from the simple, frugal life that Muhammad taught • Were very centered around family ties and nothing else • Abbasids began to grow angry and wanted power • Used the Mawali (non Arab Muslims) and Shi’a to help them gain the power • Come to dinner • Reject those that helped them after they took power

19. The Abbasids • Moved the Capital from Damascus • to Baghdad • Created a very large Bureaucracy • Headed by the Vizier

20. Who are the Abbasids • 3rd Abbasid Caliph was al Mahdi • Major love of luxury which caused a lot of corruption • Failed to fix the whole succession problem • Son assassinated • Most Famous Abbasid Caliph was Harun al-Rashid • 1000 and 1 Nights • Depended on Persian advisors • How does this cause problems later on

21. Death of al Rashid • 1st civil war over succession • End of the real power of the Caliph • Caliph felt they needed personal guards • Turks  became the power center • Personal armies (70,000) • Started killing the Caliph they were supposed to protect • All this fighting took a lot of money • Ran out • General destruction everywhere

22. Slow decline • Splinter dynasties created own kingdoms and began to fight for power • Buyidsof Persia take Baghdad in 945 • Shi’a • Buyids were the Sultan • These were the true rulers and the Caliph was just a figure head • Seljuk Turks defeat the Buyids in 1055 • Purged the Shi’a during this time

23. What impact did the Crusades have on the Islamic empire? • The Muslims were not as affected as the Christians culturally by the crusades • The Muslims received Greek learning that was recovered by the Christians • Christians took over small kingdoms temporarily, but Muslims under Saladin reclaimed them • Muslims developed a more negative view of the Christians • Europeans borrowed ideas from the Muslims • Italian merchants stayed after crusades diffusing the Arabian economic system • First crusades was most successful due to elements of surprise and lack of political unity • Much of the holy land was captured and divided into Christian kingdoms • It will change back and forth

24. Islam in Asia • As stated earlier people who made their way into India stayed and were assimilated • Due to the flexibility of Indian Culture • Muslims enter • First time Indians met with a civilization as sophisticated as their own • Due to trade

25. Africa

28. Africa • Really large and spread-out • Causes a lot of diversity • Some places were considered “states” and others were not

29. Stateless Societies • Organized around kinship or other forms of obligation • Lack the concentration of political power and authority • Can grow very large • Usually ruled by counsel or family group • There was little concentration of authority

30. Difficulties • Resist external pressures • Mobilize for warfare • Organize large building projects • Create stable conditions for long distance trade • Why was this so difficult?????

31. Common Elements • Even though they were so diverse there were some commonalities • Linguistic Base  Bantu • Understanding • Animism • Nature, animals, magic

32. Nubia and Ethiopia

33. Ghana

34. Mali

35. Songhay

36. Central African States

37. Swahili States