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Unit 1.2 Developments in Dar al-Islam

Abbasid Caliphate

8th-13th Centuries

FIRST TOPIC

After the death of Muhammad (570-632) Islam rapidly spread and had influence as far West as Spain and as far East as India. The Abbasid Empire was one of two major empires to emerge during the time period from 1200-1450.

Region/Invasions

SUBTOPIC 1

- During the 1100 and 1200's the Abbasid Caliphate endured invasions from 4 Groups

- Mamluks (Egyptian Slaves) from the West

- Seljuk Turks from the Central Asia.

- Christian Crusaders from Europe

- Mongols from Central Asia (after Mamluks)

Baghdad

SUBTOPIC 2

Baghdad served as the capital/center of the Abbasisd Caliphate

- Was a key stop on the Southern Silk Roads. As it lost its importance in the Silk Roads, the Caliphate lost power.

- It was also home to the House of Wisdom, one of the most famous libraries/centers of learning in history.

- The decline of the Baghdad due to invasion and inability to sustain the agricultural demands caused its downfall.

SECOND TOPIC

Umayyad Caliphate

- While the Abbasid Caliphate controlled the Arabian Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate was more successful in the west, controlling modern day Spain for a long period of time.

- Cordoba served as the cultural center of the Umayyad Caliphate, mirroring Baghdad in the Abbasid Caliphate.

Women and Slaves

THIRD TOPIC

- In stark contrast to the contemporary world, in the ancient Arabian Caliphates women and slaves held a very high status and large amount of freedom for the time.

Women

Women

- Unlike Christian and Jewish women, Islamic women could inherit property, remarry if widowed, and get cash settlements from a divorce.

- One of the most important authors of this time was a woman, A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah.

- Much of this is credited to the high degree of respect Muhammad had for his first wife, who was a successful merchant.

- It was common for women to observe hijab, which was both a specific clothing item and a modest style of dressing.

Slaves

- Slavery was very different than in most places.

- Muslims could not enslave other Muslims.

- Hereditary slavery was not yet a "thing"

- Many slaves converted to Islam, and as a result were often set free.

- Slave women, in particular, had a high degree of freedom. They could go to market and earn money performing music/dance for unrelated men, which made them money.

Slaves

Education

FOURTH TOPIC

- The cultural centers of Cordoba and Baghdad were centers of great learning. In addition, Cairo and Bukhara developed great universities.

- As centers of trade, they brought translated Greek philosophers, studied Indian math texts, and used paper making techniques from China.

- Swahili, a language still spoken in parts of the world today, was created by blending Bantu (an African language) and Arabic

- Two famous scholars were Ibn Rushd out of Cordoba and Nasiral-Din al-Tusi in Baghdad.

Sufi Muslims

Counterpoint

- While much of the Arab world at the time had a strong academic/intellectual bend, the Sufis did not emphasize "book learning".

- The Sufis focused on grasping truths that they believed could not be understood by learning.

- Sufi missionaries, like many Muslims, were very tolerant of other cultures/traditions.

- The tolerance made them very effective at spreading Islam.

Economy

FIFTH TOPIC

- Muhammad was a merchant, so the merchant class was given, understandably, more respect in the Muslim culture of the time than in other places.

- The policy of tolerance also encouraged trade relationships.

- Military representatives were not allowed to own land, instead conquered countries paid tributes to the Caliphates. However, since they did not interfere with the lifestyle/beliefs of the conquered citizens, this was normally done peacefully.

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