Early Islamic Empires:

1
Early Islamic Empires

• Umayyad and Abbasid

2
Sunni Shiite Split

• Mohammeds Death (632) Abu-Bakir first caliph,
  secular and religious ruler, chosen by Umma
• Third caliph Uthman (Umayyad) assassinated, Ali,
  Mohammeds cousin and son-in-law made caliph,
  controversial and eventually Ali Assassinated
  (661)
• Shia believe only descendant of Ali should be
  caliph
• Sunni believed that successor should be chosen
  from Umma (Muslim community)

the story of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn cAli,
one of Muhammad's grandsons and cAli's son. His
killing at the battle of Karbala, in Iraq,
represented a turning point for the Muslim
community and originated the main division
between Sunnis and Shici. In this illustration
3
Expansion of Islam

• Spread by military conquest
• (as opposed to Christianity and Buddhism which
  spread by missionaries)
• By 633 Arabian Peninsula under control
• 651 Persia
• End of 7th C. all of Middle East and Egypt
• Spread to Asia, competed with Buddhism
• 8th C. across N. Africa and into Iberian
  Peninsula (Spain)
• Dhows and Lateen Sail aided their spread

4
Islamic Expansion 7th C- 17th C
5
Umayyad Caliphate

• after Alis assassination, Umayyad came to power.
  Capital was Damascus
• Noted for
• emphasizing Arab ethnicity over Islam
• converts inferior
• respect for people of the book (Jews and
  Christians)
• Luxury for rulers (resented by general populace
  Led to overthrow by Abbasids in 750)

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
6
Abbasid Caliphate

• Originally Shiite, the Sunni also accepted them.
  Capital Baghdad
• Noted for
• Heightened trade
• Greek and Roman learning preserved (esp.
  Aristotle)
• Math Indian s with 0 (Arabic numerals),
  algebra, trig, geom.
• astrolabe improved accurate maps
• Medicine
• Growth of cities (Baghdad, Cairo, Córdoba)
• Art and Architecture calligraphy, minarets
  (towers on Mosques)
• Sufis mystics who wanted emotional tie with
  Allah began spreading Islam

7
Fall of Abbasid

• empire too large, difficult to govern, succession
  caused problems
• independent kingdoms within the empire ruled by
  Sultans took control of Baghdad in 945
• Seljuk Turks attacked Byzantine empire then
  Abbasid, took Jerusalem which led to first
  Crusade

Abbasid Dancing Girls
8
Al-Andalus

• Spread across N. Africa and into Spain.
• 711 Berbers conquered Spain but stopped 200 miles
  south of Paris at Battle of Tours
• by Charles the Hammer Martel
• Caliphate of Cordoba (run by Umayyad)
• Great library and education
• Trade thrived
• Arabic words sofa, algebra, alcohol

9
Islam in Africa

• Traders first brought Islam to Northern Africa
• 10th C. Egypt taken over by Muslim Caliphates,
  gradually Ghana and Mali became Muslim
• Tended to form syncretic (blended) Religion
• Matrilineal societies offered more freedom to
  women, made some resistant to Islam

10
Mamluk Dynasties

• Middle eastern Islam falls to Mongols
• Mamluks, Egyptian Slaves, build center of
  learning in Egypt
• encouraged trade, culture, learning
• made Egypt prosper during 14th and 15th
• takeover by Ottomans in 16th century

11
Women in Islam

• early days, no veil, allowed in public
• equal under Allah, could own property, could
  initiate divorce and remarry
• Veil and Harem originated during Abbasid Dynasty
• Men can have up to 4 wives
• as time progressed, more isolated, kept away from
  gaze of men