Islam and the Growth of Empire

Islam and the Growth of Empire

ISLAM: Submission to the Will of Allah

The Judeo-Christian Foundations of Islam

Islam An Abrahamic Religion • Strict monotheists • Believe: • Allah, the Judeo-Christian God • The Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an,is the word of God Peoples of the Book

The Prophetic Tradition Adam Noah Abraham Moses Jesus Muhammad

The Origins of the Qur’an • Muhammad received first revelation from angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610. • 622 Hijrah  Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. * The beginning of the Muslim calendar • Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.

The Five Pillars of Islam

1. The Shahada • The testimony • The declaration of faith: There is no god worthy of worship except God, andMuhammad is HisMessenger [or Prophet]. 1

2. The Salat • The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day:* dawn* noon* late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed • Wash before praying • Face Mecca and use prayer rug 2

3. The Zakat • Almsgiving (charitable donations) • Muslims believe that all things belong to God • Zakatmeans both “purification” and “growth” • About 2.5% of your income 3

4. The Sawm • Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan • Considered a method of self- purification • No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan 4

5. The Hajj • The pilgrimage to Mecca • Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime • 2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year 5

5. The Hajj • Those who complete pilgrimage can add the title hajji to their name 5

The Dar al-Islam The Worldof Islam 1 2 3 4 5

The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem Mount Moriah Rockwhere Muhammad ascended into heaven

Other Islamic Religious Practices • Up to four wives allowed at once • No alcohol or pork • No gambling • Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living • Three holiest cities in Islam:* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem

Essential Question: Why was Islam able to spread so quickly and convert so many to the new religion?

The Spread of Islam • Easy to learn and practice • No priesthood • Teaches equality • Non-Muslims, “dhimmi” who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes • Easily “portable”  nomads & trade routes • Jihad(“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”)

Muslims in the WorldToday

Countries with the Largest Muslim Population * Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the world.

From Umayyad to Abbasid Empires ARAB ISLAMIC

The party traced its descent from Muhammad’s uncle, al-Abbas. Al-Abbas’ great great grandson, Abu al-Abbas led his forces against Umayyads His allies were Shi’a Mawali (Islamic converts) to gain acceptance in community of believers Captured Umayyad capital in Syria At “Reconciliation Banquet” al-Abbas slaughtered remaining Umayyad family Rise of Abbasid Party

Began to reject Shi’a and Malawi (non-Arab converts) allies…and defended Sunni Islam Built centralized, absolutist imperial order New capital: Baghdad on Tigris River Baghdad became richest city in the world (only Constantinople came close) Had palace with jeweled thrones and harems Image of elitism was important For more than a century, able to collect revenue and preserve law over much of empire Early Abbasid Era

Mass conversions to Islam were encouraged throughout empire Most converts were won over peacefully because of appeal of Islamic beliefs and advantages they enjoyed: - didn’t have to pay head tax - educational opportunities - jobs as traders, administrators, judges Islamic Conversion and Mawali Acceptance

Abbasid Era was a great time of urban expansion and growth of merchant and landlord classes. Tang & Song Dynasties in China were also reviving middle merchant class. (results of falls of Rome/Han) Arab DHOWS - trading vessels with triangular (lateen) sails were used from Mediterranean to South China Sea Later influenced European ship design Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion

Muslim merchants formed joint ventures with Christian and Jewish traders Each merchant had different Sabbath so they could work 7 days a week Merchants grew rich supplying cities with goods throughout the empire Much wealth went to charity (required by Qur’an) Hospitals and medical care of Abbasid Empire surpassed those of any other civilization of that time Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion, cont..

Much unskilled labor was left to slaves Some slaves were able rise to positions of power and gain freedom Huge estates might have slaves, indentured servants or sharecroppers Town & Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion, cont..

Early contributions from Abbasid were great mosques and palaces. Ex: Dome of the Rock Advances in religious, legal and philosophical discourse Science and Math! preserved Greek works of medicine, algebra, geometry, astronomy, anatomy, and ethics Arabic traders in India carried Indian number system across Mediterranean and into Northern Europe What’s the impact? The First Flowering of Islamic Learning

Abbasid Empire was “go-between” for ancient civilizations of Eastern Hemisphere Role grew as Arab trade networks expanded Islam pioneered patterns of organization and thinking that would affect human societies in major ways for centuries 5 Centuries = Spread of Islam played dominant role in the Afro-Eurasian World Global Connections: Early Islam & the World

In the midst of achievement, Muslims had some growing disadvantages, especially to Europeans Muslim divisions would leave openings for political problems Growing intolerance and orthodoxy led to the belief that the vast Islamic world contained all requirements for civilized life, which caused Muslim people to grow less receptive to outside influence and innovations…led to isolation at a time when Christian rivals were in a period of experimentation and exploration Global Connections: Early Islam & the World…cont.

Islam and the Growth of Empire