Topic 1.2 Flashcards
Developments in Dar-al Islam (20 cards)
How did Islam spread?
- Islam spread because of merchants, military actions, and missionaries.
- After the death of Muhammed (632), Islam rapidly spread from Arabia, India, and Spain
Describe Muhammed
- Founder of Islam: God -> Allah
- Claimed to be the last prophet from God
- Claimed to have visions from Angel Gabriel
- Wife: Khadija
- Was a merchant
- Born in Mecca
Muhammed’s Policies for Women
- Raised the Status of Women
*Treated his wives with love and devotion- Insisted that dowries would be paid to the future wife, not the father
- Forbade infanticide
- His first wife was educated and owned her own business
Dar-al-Islam Translates to…
House of Wisdom: scholars traveled from far away to Baghdad to study at this renowned school
- Showed tolerance to Jews, Christians, those who believed in one god.
Describe the Abbasid Empire
- What challenges did it face?
1100s to 1200s: made up of Arabs and Persians
- Conflict with Turkic groups in Central Asia (Mamluks, Seljuks, Delhi Sultanate)
- Confronted European invaders
How did the influence of the Mamluks take control of the Abbasid Empire?
-Mamluks were purchased by the Abbasid Empire: they served as soldiers and had more opportunities for advancement than other enslaved people.
- Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517) was established in the empire’s vulnerability (fragmented by outside forces) when they seized control of the government.
How did the influence of the Seljuk Turks take control of the Abbasid Empire?
- The Seljuk Turks were Muslim and began conquering parts of the Middle East, extending as far as Western China.
- The Seljuk leader called himself sultan, reducing the role of the highest ranking Abbasid from caliph to chief.
Describe the Crusaders
- Brought ideas and products to Europe
- Allowed Christians to travel easily to and from their holy sites.
- The Seljuks limited this travel.
- European soldiers organized groups of soldiers, called crusaders, to reopen access.
Who was the 4th group to attack the Abbasid Empire?
- During the Abbasid Empire’s vulnerable state the Mongols came from Central Asia and conquered the remaining Abbasid Empire in 1258 and ended the Seljuk rule.
- Were then stopped in Egypt by the Mamluks.
How did the Abbasid Empire face economic competition?
- Since the 8th century, the Abbasids had been an important link connecting Asia, Europe, and North Africa.
- Goods and Ideas
- Controlled most trade routes
- Many routes went through Baghdad and they lost wealth and population
- Trade patterns shifted farther north
- Baghdad slowly fell into decay
Influence of Culture
- Many of the new states adopted Abbasid culture but were still distinct.
- Three large Islamic states continued the Turkic culture -> The Ottoman Empire, The Safavid Empire, The Mughal Empire.
- Trade spread fresh and new ideas
- Common use of shariah created similar legal systems.
Cultural Continuities
- Abbasid Scholars
- Islamic scholars followed the advice of Muhammed
1. Translated Greek Literacy classics into Arabic, saving historic works of literature
2. Studied math texts from India and transferred that knowledge to Europeans
3. Adopted techniques for paper making from China.
Cultural Innovations: Scholars during the ‘golden age’ in Baghdad
- Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274): Law, Astronomy, Logic, Ethnics
- Built an observatory
- Made Trigonometry
- Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406): was well known for his historical accounts and founder of the fields of historiography and sociology.
- Influenced Aristotle and wrote influential works on law, philosophy, and natural sciences.
- ‘A’ishah al-Bauniyyah (1460-1507): was a sufi poet and mystic
Who were Sufi Muslims?
- Why did they win many converts?
Emphasized introspection to grasp truths that they believed could not be understood through learning.
- Played an important role in the spread of Islam.
* Adapted to local cultures and traditions and won many converts.
Describe Mercantilism in the Abbasid Empire
- Helping to power the golden age of natural and moral philosophy and the arts was commerce
- Islamic society viewed merchants as more prestigious (Muhammed)
- Merchants could get rich from their dealings across the Indian Ocean and Central Asia
- Esteemed as long as they maintained fair dealings and gave to charity
Diversity in the Abbasid Empire: what did they call outsiders?
- Discrimination of non-Arabs until 9th century. (People of the Book)
How did the slavery system work in the Abbasid Empire?
- Prohibited Muslims from enslaving other Muslims or monotheists, imported slaves
- Enslaved Women became concubines
- They could buy their own freedom
- They could run errands and were permitted to dance and perform in front of unrelated men, often making money.
- If they converted to Islam they would be free.
Status of Women
- Islamic women enjoyed a higher status than Christian or Jewish women.
- Allowed to inherit property and retain ownership after marriage
- Could remarry and could institute divorce
- Practiced birth control
- In court, their testimony was worth only half than of a man’s
- Harem: a dwelling set aside for wives, concubines, and the children of these women.
Islamic rule in Spain
- In 711: Muslim forces had defeated Byzantine armies across North America
- Umayyads ruled in Spain -> created a climate of toleration in Cordoba
- Designated Cordoba as their capital
- Battle of Tours: Marked the limit of rapid Islamic expansion in West Europe
What was the center of learning?
- Al-Andalus: Was the center of learning, ideas, and reformation at the time.
- Cordoba had the largest library in the world.
