PERSIAN Chart for Islamic Caliphates

ERA: 8,000 B.C.E. – 600 C.E. / Umayyads (660 – 750) / Abbasids
750 - 1258
POLITICAL

By 633 All of Arabia was under Islamic control
The weakness of the Persian empire allowed Muslim military commanders to mount a series of expeditions to expand their empire, conquering Mesopotamia, North Africa, Persia and into Spain.
Shi’i (followers of Ali) and Sunni split started with the Umayyads and is still a problem, conflict over who should rule
From the city of Damascus Umayyad Caliphs built a bureaucracy limited to Arab participation

Rebel group from Iran joined with the Shi’a to overthrow the Umayyad caliphs in 750 (Umayyad leaders killed at banquet)
only Umayyad from Spain remained
Abbasid’s built a centralized, absolute government
capital moved to Baghdad and government became more Persian (dominated by Persian bureaucrats)
Caliphs lived in gilt palaces with their harems and the government was run by the wazirs and the executioner.
excessive lifestyle of Abbasids drained treasury
Shi’a revolts led to a weakening in the Abbasid Empire, along with the Caliph’s taste for luxury would put financial strain on the empire.
Civil wars and food riots caused 4 caliphs to be murdered. Mercenary slave armies and constant civil war, public works, mosques, palaces drained the treasury leaving the expense to raise taxes on the peasants
In 1055, the Abbasid Caliphs were replaced by the Seljuk Turk sultans, and the caliphs became puppets to the Turks.

ECONOMIC

Trade flourished as the Arab empire grew throughout the Middle east, across North Africa and into Spain.
Muslim sailors/ traders dominated the Eastern Mediterranean

only Arabs were 1st class citizens because the Umayyads did not want to share the “booty”
non-Arabs Muslims & non-Muslims paid taxes
later Umayyad caliphs stopped giving out “booty”

efficient tax system to get money from widespread empire
booty no longer shared
growth of merchant class became core of trade with the Tang and Song dynasties of China
profits invested in land and palaces
Growth of craft industries / guilds such as luxury items, carpets, glassware, jewelry, and tapestries.
Converts to Islam were exempt from taxes and had more opportunities, allowing Persian families to rise to position of power.

RELIGIOUS

Conquered peoples not required to become Muslim
Jews & Christians were People of the Book
the Umayyads were considered more conservative than the Abassids, but the caliphs lifestyle was extravagant.
the hadiths (traditions of Islam) grew during the time of the Umayyads

caliphs felt they were the “shadow of God” and superior to ordinary citizens
the strict principles of Muhammad not followed in many parts of the empire
Efforts to win new converts led to mass conversions by Persians, Turks, and Berbers.
No distinction between Arab Muslims and non-Arab Muslims since the booty was no longer shared.
Sufi mystics reacted against strict view f traditionalists
Sufis thought to be magical
Sufis spread Islam to large parts of Asia

SOCIAL

the caliphs secluded themselves in palaces and became addicted to luxuries and harems.
frugal lifestyle of Muhammad abandoned and the taxes / booty used to pay for their luxury.
Pre-Islamic Bedouin society women played a large role; however the role of women lessened as more people lived in the cities
Mohammad’s teachings proclaimed equality of men and women before God. Women had some opportunities and occupations.
Umayyads did not want to assimilate culture of the conquered peoples

INTERACTIONS

Umayyads continued expansion started under patriarchal caliphs.
Large parts of Byzantine empire taken over
Muslims invaded central Asia and conquered the Sasanian Empire of Persia
Umayyads defeated by Charles Martel in France in 732. They retreated back to Spain (until 1492)
largest empire since Romans

captured slaves used in mercenary army and they became the real power of Baghdad
worldwide trade became core of Abbasid wealth
Crusades had little effect on Muslims.
Saladin united Muslims against Richard of England and “re-took” Jerusalem
losses of fringe parts of empire to different Muslim sects
1258 – last Abbasid caliph killed by Mongols

Mongols eventually stopped by Mameluks (Turkic slaves) of Egypt and Cairo became the “center” of Islam along with Constantinople / Istanbul in the north

ARTS

Arab dhows, or sailing vessels with triangular lateen sails, dominated the Indian Ocean
mosques built all over
“captured” cities like Alexandria became centers of learning and Muslim scholars preserved the works of Greeks and then used Greek basis for their own innovations
Arabic merchants brought number system from India
Algebra / trigonometry/ classification of all material substances / medicine plus bringing all the inventions of India and China
Literary works blended mystical and reality: Rubaiyat

ENVIRONMENTAL

Arab empire became centered on towns and cities and less on the desert / Mecca and Damascus were religious and government centers.
Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Empire
Umayyads began to dominate the seas

the irrigation systems of old Mesopotamia fell into disrepair and the agrarian output went down