Islamic Conquests, 632-1258
Islamization and Arabization: included the spread of algebra, medical advances, and the astrolabe
The Byzantine Empire: parts conquered by the Arabs, they took Egypt in 639 and Syria 636 away, formally culturally Christian, it was the majority religion from the 4th-6th centuries, would slowly become Islamic
Coptic minority: remains in Egypt today, estimated to be around 10-15% of the population tracing there foundation to St Mark coming to Alexandria and then spreading southward
Sassanid Empire (Persian Empire): Defeated entirely, small Zoroastrian minority remains today in Iran, around 25,000 or .03% of population
North Africa: conquered as well from Byzantine Empire, becomes Islamic
Berbers: distinct minority of pastoralists, slowly converted though often discriminated against and seen as second class Muslims by some Muslim leaders throughout history
Western Europe:
Spain: 711 Conquered by Muslim forces
Battle of Tours: Charles the Hammer Martel 732 stopped the invasion of France
East Africa and Swahili: helped link trade with through the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean with Muslim traders, Swahili was a mix of Bantu and Arabic, Arab trading posts established, growth of commerce and trade, Islam helps promote peaceful trade
Sun-Saharan Africa: limited in expansion while north of it became overwhelming Muslim, would see Christianity as an equal competitor for converts, the Sahara desert was one reason
Reasons
Muslim POV: Divine vindication
Spread by the sword?
1. More Arab than Muslim
2. Little conversion interest
Good: leadership
The Umayyad Dynasty, 661-750
Muawiyah (Mu’awiya): founder
Damascus (Syria): centered
Focus on: political rather than religious
Arabic slowly: as official lang./ coins, originally a lot of non Muslims
Concepts of
Dar al-Islam, ("abode of Islam"):, lands under Muslim control;
Dar al-Harb ("abode of war"):lands ruled by unbelievers
Only 10% :of the empire was Muslim by 750
Irreligious behavior: of rulers
Arabs of Syria vs Arabs of Iraq- jealousy of Arabs of Iraq
Rebellions, by 750: the Ummayad Empire had fallen
Al-Andalus: escape to Spain, a rival calpihate
750-1258--The 'Abbasid Dynasty
Abbas: Descended from Muhammad's uncle, the family line that had coordinated many of these rebellions
Baghdad, Iraq: centered in.
Persian influence: ceremonies and court life
Attracted "Mawali": , non-Arab Muslims, discrimination against non-Arabs slowly faded
Widespread conversion: not until the 9th century
Presided over Golden Age of culture: literature, arts, sciences, philosophy, collection of Hadith, Greek works into Arabic, especially Aristotle , helpful to Europeans who would lose these early Greek works, Muslims would reintroduce them to Europe
Political Fragmentation, 850-1050
Too big: the muslim world from Spain to India, ¼ of the way around the world
Break of regions: increased with these challenges, months to effectively organize military responses to rebellions
Islamic Regionalism: break off groups never gave up Islam
Financial pressure: with regions breaking away and not paying taxes
Mamluks- Turkic slaves, bought due to distrust of the local army generals who the caliph believed was working with the local rebel groups but who themselves would later manipulate the caliph as they grew in power
Persian (modern day Iran) would gain: independence
Use of Persian as a: second Muslim language, remains today distinct for rest of Muslim world. Society older than Islam
Egypt
the Fatimid Dynasty (969): Independent under based in Cairo (Shia caliph but population remained sunni), became a major cultural, intellectual center of Islam
Al-Azhar Mosque and Madrasa: one of oldest universities in world
Umayyad Spain: Blending of Jews, Romans, Germanic, Islamic influence, Al-Andalus
Cordoba: Capitol
Seville and Toledo: of, more advanced and wealthier than Christian European cities, claimed to be true Caliph 929
Ulama: religious scholars job to interpret the law
Assault from within and without, 1050-1258
Internal Muslim conflicts -
Turks: After 1000, the Turks come into Muslim lands horsemen, central Asia, allies, sweep in
1030 Seljuk Turks: become the first Turkish Muslim state, they are nomads and nomads and many urbanized Muslims looked down on them as people who were uncivilized and did not take Islam seriously
Sultan- title taken for the ruler
Battle of Manzikert and the fate of Anatolia(1071): battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Turks, The Byzantine lose Asia Minor (Anatolia) from Byzantine Empire- leaving really only Constantinople
Result of rule: Cities shrank, farmland to grazing land, taxes income fell, irrigation fell,
Collapse on canal system- fertile crescent, because of the lack of income, the canals were no longer maintained, the loss of farming potential under Turkish rule of Mesopotamia, population loss
Non-Muslim conflicts
First Crusade (1099): Western Europeans Christian (Roman Catholics encouraged by the Pope) seeking to liberate their Holy Land that had been captured by Muslim forces captured Jerusalem in 1099 because of Muslim disunity/ regionalism, European Christian are able to take over part of the Middle East
Saladin (1187): recaptured Jerusalem, hero of Muslim and respected by Christians (Kingdom of Heaven)
Mongol Invasions-1258 Baghdad