Robert W. Strayer

Ways of the World: A Brief Global History

Second Edition and

Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources

Second Edition

CHAPTER 9

The Worlds of Islam: Afro-Eurasian Connections

600 –1500

Copyright © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin’s

The Rise of Islam

3rd wave civilization Arabian Peninsula home of the Bedouins Lived in clans and often engaged in blood feuds Variety of gods Yemen had agriculture society, next to the Mediterranean Sea = involvement in trade gave rise to trading cities

Mecca was the site of Kaaba – most religious shrine in Arabia 300 deities – destination of many pilgrims Mecca’s domination tribe Quraysh controlled access to shrine= great wealth 6th century Mecca was home to various tribes and clans Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians here

Allah

Allah most Arabs recognized the prominence of the supreme god Allah Allah was identified with the Jewish Yahweh Arabs regarded themselves as children of Abraham Some Arabs were saying Yahweh / Allah was the only God and other gods were helpless/harmless idols

Messenger and the Message

Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (570-632) born in Mecca Member of the Quraysh family – Parents died and he was raised by his uncle Worked as a Sheppard and later a trader Age 25 married Khadija a wealth widow He became a successful merchant and had 6 children

Muhammad’s revelations started in 610 and lasted over 20 years. The information was written in the Quran Sacred word of God During his meditation he was visited by the angel Gabriel He later ran to his wife in terror A Christian assured him that he was the messenger of God and a Prophet

Muhammad’s wife was the 1st to convert to this new religion.

Muslim –one who takes Islam as their religion – or submits to Allah Allah was the only God As a messenger of God Muhammad put himself in line of previous prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus and others He was the last seal of the prophets, Gods final revelation to mankind

Muhammad felt the Jews had considered wrongly they were the chosen people Christians had made their prophet into a god Arabs had become polytheistic The Quran would correct these mistakes

The Quran denounced the prevailing society’s practices Hording wealth Exploitation of the poor Corruption in business Abuse of women

The Quran challenged the tribal and clan structure Creation of one Muslim society or umma (UMH-mah) No more tribal, ethnic or racial identities In this society women would be honored and spiritually equal Believers would protect one another - Join what is right and forbid what is wrong

5 pillars of Islam There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet Pray 5 times a day Alms giving – giving to the poor Fasting during Ramadan Pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj 6th Pillar was the Jihad – allows for the sword against non-believers

Transformation of Arabia Muhammad was only able to find a small group of followers in Mecca His family (clan) was against his claim that he was the Prophet and reform of society Muhammad and a few followers were forced to leave and went to Yathrib This would become the City of the Prophet Muhammad became an arbitrator to the people’ conflicts

Immigration to Yathrib known as hijra Turning point and marked the beginning of the new calendar Tax free market place was established Mandatory payments to support the poor Muhammad thought Jews and Christians would accept his new religion Muhammad had people pray facing Jerusalem – but then some Jews joined his enemies

He had people pray facing Jerusalem Some Jews joined his enemies Muhammad killed, exiled or enslaved them Followers were now instructed to pray toward mecca. Jews and Christians who were loyal were considered Children of The book and given protection – second class citizens – pay a special tax

Arab religion with a universal message

Islam grew rapidly. People were attracted to it because it offered End of warfare among tribes Muhammad Marched into Mecca and rid it of idols By 632 when Muhammad died most of Arabia was under Muslim control

Sharia Law

Muhammad was not only a religious leader but also a political and military leader The law of Islam became the center of Muslim society – Sharia Law

Making of an Arab Empire

Within a few years on Muhammad’s death the Arab armies fought the Byzantine and Persian Sassanid Empires – The strongest in the region It was the beginning of an Arab Empire that would stretch from Spain to India and conquering parts of China and Europe 644 the Sassanid Empire fell Byzantine lost most of its southern empire

Muslims swept across Northern Africa and into Spain and attacked France Arabs reached the Indus River 751 Crushed the Chinese in the battle of Talas River – Stopped further expansion of the Chinese Empire Most conflict was with armies but in 634 a battle with the Byzantine 4,000 dead villagers

Trade and Wealth

Driving force was wealth – Merchants wanted new trade routes The new Islamic society became a path of military expansions and a route to wealth and social promotion The unity of umma became fragile Many saw the expansion as a Jihad – bringing Islam to these lands

Conversion People within the Muslim society saw themselves linked together in a cultural identity and belief in Allah Slaves and prisoners were early converts Others converted to avoid paying special tax for non-believers Merchants found Islam friendly to commerce and by being Muslim it opened you up to trade without fear Islam was also an aid to social mobility

Much of the Muslim world lost their old languages and spoke Arabic Shahnama (The Book of the Kings) by Persian poet Ferdowsi Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan Islamized but not Arabized Zoroastrianism, Jewish and Christians religions did mix with Islam leaving some with Satan, judgment day, heaven and hell

Division and Controversies With the death of Muhammad there was the question of who would rule Caliph -Successor to Muhammad – political and military leaders The 1st four caliphs were the Rightly Guided Caliphs 632-661 Division developed and Abu Bakr the first caliph suppressed tribal rebellion & 3rd and 4th were both assassinated Civil war in 656

Sides split Sunni Muslims believed the caliph - political and military leader -selected by Islamic community Shia Muslims – leadership should come from the bloodline of Muhammad Sunni Muslims – religious authority emerged from large communities – scholars called ulama Shia Muslims leader known as imams – they could interpret religious law Sunni and Shia split became a lasting division in the Muslim world

Empire grew & caliphs were transformed from tribal chiefs to absolute monarchs Some established dynasties Umayyad 661-750 first dynasty to rule following the Rightly Guided Caliphs Caliphs became hereditary and capital moved from Medina to Damascus in Syria Abbasids overthrew the Umayyad in 750 Capital in Bagdad Allowed non Arabs mostly Persians playing and important role

Women and Men in Early Islam

In early society men and women were equal But in social terms men were superior to women Islam forbid female infanticide Women had control over their own properties Marriage by capture was now illegal Divorce possible / Women not veiled or secluded

2nd caliph Umar veiling and seclusions Women no longer in public life Caliph Masur 754-775 took separation further Separate bridges for women Honor killings – women killed by relatives for violating sexual taboos Women were considered a sexual threat to men Led to female circumcision – still practiced today

India India became part of the Islamic society Turkic and Muslim rule governed most f India until British takeover in 18th and 19th century In the early stages there was much violence Hindu and Buddhist temples destroyed Disillusioned Buddhist and members of low casts were attracted to Islam The religion never grew more than 25% of Indian society

Anatolia - Now modern day Turkey Largely a Christian and Greek speaking society governed by Byzantine Empire By 1500 90% Muslim – Turkish speaking and home of the Ottoman Empire Turkish rulers offered converts material rewards, better opportunities, Established schools, hospitals, and rest places for travelers 1500 it was the most impressive and most powerful Islam state

West Africa Trade brought Islam here It was gradually accepted and mostly peaceful and voluntary African merchants saw Islam as an important link to Muslim trade By 1600 some West African cities had become centers of Islamic religion and intellectual life attracting scholars

Timbuktu – 150 Quranic schools and several major centers of higher level educations Students from all over West Africa Libraries – tens of thousands of books Monarchs helped pay for the building of Mosques Islam was the culture of the urban elites The general population practiced African religions The religion was often mixed with local customs

Spain

Early 8th century Arab and Berber forces captured much of Spain 10th century Muslim Spain was a place of harmony – Jews and Christian lived here in peace Saw a flourishing of arts, medicine, architecture, literature 1000 ce 75% of population was Muslim Late 10th century Persecution of Christians 11th century

1200 the re-conquest of Spain by the Christians started – Reconquista 1492 Isabella and Ferdinand unified Spain as a Catholic society Muslim and Jews were forced out of Spain Many of those forced to leave were wealth and very educated

World of Islam as a New Civilization Ulama Trained scholars – served as judges, interpreters, administrators, prayer leaders and reciters of the Quran They were supported by local communities, rulers often gave support In homes, mosques, shrines, and schools ulama passed on the core teachings of Islam 11th century – universities built – philosophy, theology, mathematics and medicine

Common text shared across Islamic world Sufi – shaykhs or shakes, teachers attracted disciples The Sufi order would follow armies and traders Devotion of followers allowed the Sufi to grow - Belief in saints The Sufi became another part of the Islam world

Network and exchanges Pilgrimage to Mecca and urbanization of Islamic civilization fosters commerce Muslim merchants became dominant players in the world trade, Mediterranean Sea, Silk Road, and Sahara New crops led to the green Revolution = increased food production, population growth, urbanization and industrialization across Islamic world

The End