Ecam 3 Flashcards
Arabian Peninsula
No rivers, flash flooding bc soil too dry and hard to absorb precipitation in desert landscape
Oases (freshwater in middle of desert)
Resources: Frankincense (hardened material coming from tree), myrrh (same thing), date palms (FL palms)
Located on major trade route (silk road)
Arabs
Division of clans (feuds common)
Jewish influence from Roman times
Between sassanid (second persian empire) and Byzantine (eastern half of roman empire that survived)**
Arab Culture
Thought world was populated by spirits (Djinn)
Used the camel a lot (could be ferocious)
The arabian pony speed, stamina, intelligence
Bedouin vs stationary oasis**
Mecca**
Major part of Caravan routes (travel routes of traders or travelers)
Numerous shrines. Mosque built to enclose the Ka’bah, the holiest shrine, would pray for Allah
Mohamad (b570): mother died, he was orphaned and taken care of by his father
Islam spread in Mecca, tribes began to oppose Muhammad’s preaching and his condemnation of idolatry. Quraysh tribe controlled Ka’bah and drew religious/political power from its shrines, so they persecuted Muslims. Mohammad disgusted with greed of elders
Mohamed (prophet)
Created a new religion
5 pillars like 10 commandments
People didn’t like that it required charity and monotheism
Islamic calendar started when mohammad traveled from Mecca to Medina
struggle for power in Mecca and Medina
Wanted control of caravan routes
Muslims (“those that submit”) gradually defeat meccan army
Jihad and rewards for dying in combat
Unification of arab peoples
Mohammad’s Unique Role**
Islamic laws influence secular and religious world. Like Tribal customs’ effect on Koran**
Islamic empire wa united by religion first, then ethnicity. There was a problem with how to treat coverts (would tac less if they did, but this diluted the econ status advantages of Arabs)
As sassanids fall and Byzantine Empire nearly taken, Mohammad’s followersreach India. Christiansonly required they pay a special tac.
Many welcome removal of Byzantine or Persian influence
muslims seen as fair, enlightened rulers
Muslims wated to learn so they learned from Roman, Greek, and Persian wisdom, translated older tects into Arabic, preserving classical work bc of this (europe in late medieval and early renaissance)
Caliphate**
Arabian Empire built on charisma of Mohammad, people couln’t find a good predecessor
The CAliphate: sunni institution, descent form Mohammad’s inner circle, replace Mohammad Polically
sunni vs shi’a
shia “partisans of ali” believed that Ali and his descendants are part of a divine order (cousin/son in law)
sunnis “followers of the way” opposed political succession based on Mohammed’s bloodline bc he did not explicitly declare a successor
Umayyads
661-750 AD
Damascus, capital of Umayyad caliphate
Conquered North Africa and Iberia
Arabic spreads as administrative lang.
Dome on the Rock: thought to be where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Ismail
End:
Incorporated too many ethnicities into Islamic Empire
Damascus capital to Baghdad after they fell
Rival group (abbasids) seize power (descendants from Muhammad’s uncle) by attacking their moral character and admin by appealing to non-Arab Muslims
Andalusia
surviving Umayyad free to Iberia and found al-Andalus
Berber
Berbers convert to islam and adpot arabic customs
Berber Empires:
semi-nomadic desert people (move from place to place seasonally usually
Control Trade across sahara
Rise of Almoravids (stark and pious desert people following Islam trying to spread islam throughout northern Africa and Al-Andalus)
Ribats
“voluntary defense of Islam. Ribats used to house those who fought to defend Islam.
Fortified mosques
Aksum**
Rise of this Kingdom due to efforts of missionary Frumentius who named himself bishop of etheopia
Abyssinia
Aksum becomes Abyssinia
Capital moves south into mountains.
Arabs invade from Egypt
Abyssinia cut-off from Mediterranean Christianity completely**
Kingship was absolute, kept seperate from regular people, solomonid court traveled ectensively
solomonids
Claimed descent from King solomon, repelled multiple Muslim invasions (with iron-weilding infantry)
Advocated on behalf of Coptic Christians in Egypt)**
stone churches**
Christian Church of Abyssinia flourished, books valued and translated, saintly lives copied**
Mali
Kingdom of Ghana destroyed by Almoravids, power vacuum (100 years of warfare), Malinke tribe comes out on top and establishes Mali 1240
senegal and Niger Rivers
strong agriculture, alluvial gold
ecotic animal trade (ostrich feathers, lion hides, etc)
arrival of Arabic traders (nobility convert to Islam to strengthen ties, ecposure to Arabian admin)
Develop strong Calvalry
Mansa Musa
King of Mali, very rich, well-run, humane admin. pilgrimage of Mecca *eqgypt, and acquisition of scholars represented Mali as wealthy
return of arabic scholars, development of Timboktu as intellectual center
swahili Coast
East african enters asian trade
Bantu locals + Arab merchangts create swahili language
maritime (fishing/trading)
urban (contrast to nearby central Africa)
coastal (desolate grasslands prevent spread into interior)
