The Umayyad Caliphate

First Fitna

First civil war within Islam, between the Banu Umayya which Uthman was a part of versus Ali

Mu’awiya

Governor of Damascus under Uthman, fighting against Ali

Fitna Arbitration

Idea that God decides the result of the First Fitna, which Ali loses

Kharijites

Those who believe that God should NOT settle the Fitna, and don’t think Ali should agree to it. They think Ali has failed, resulting in one of them killing Ali

Umayyad Caliphate

Founded by Mu’awiya. First dynastic caliphate in Musllim history. Consolidates and refines the nascent Muslim world’s monotheism. Mu’awiya ruled for 19 years, had hard time extracting incomes from conquered territories, but had success at home

Yazid ibn Mu’awiya

Son of Mu’awiya who he wants to take over after him, making all future rulers Umayyads

Second Fitna

Fights between kin groups, which are often fabricated. People squabbling for precedence by making ties with fabricated groups. This happens after the death of Mu’awiya

Husayn ibn Ali

Son of Ali, fights against Umayyad

Abd Allan ibn al-Zubayr

Son of friend of Muhammad, takes over for Husayn because people don’t think he is pure

Al-Malik

Declared commander of the Faithful, rules until 705, time of stability under him. The Banu Umayya stays winning

Maghreb

Western area, where power projects

Invasion of Iberia (711)

Tariq crosses Gibraltar and defeats Visigothic kings

Damascus

Byzantine area where Mu’awiya’s rule was established. Umayyads and Byzantines, constant raiding between the two

Umayyad Navy

Sea force in the Mediterranean that fights the Greeks

Khorasan

Eastern edge of Umayyad empire, formerly Sasanian Persia. Biggest representative of caliph here is the tax-collector, so not a super robust Umayyad presence. Place has been conquered by not “Arabicized”

Umayyad taxation

Change in taxation under Umayyad. There had been a small tax to benefit poor members of the community, but now the Umayyads create bigger taxes because they have such large territory. State takes a share of all conquest booty, collects jizya

Longterm leases

Land is leased to Muslims for decades, you cannot own land, but you can pay the kingdom for it

Conversion and taxation

People convert in Khorasan gradually. Conversion is bad for polity, since the mainstream income for it is the jizya. Umayyad acknowledges this early on, and decides that people should still pay taxes even if they convert - this is a contested rule that is constantly changed up

Mawla, Mawali

These representatives have a patron-client relationship with the top rulers. They become kin for whatever Muslim lineage adopts them

Muslim slavery

Massive number of slaves. Possible suggestion of anti-slavery of Muslims but this doesn’t stick, and becomes routine - conversion doesn’t guarantee emancipation

Concubines

Children of these could inherit, making them powerful

Umayyad governance

All leaders of different faiths report to Umayyad Caliph, but still self-governing

Dinars

Coins in gold

Dirhams

Coins in silver

Northern and Southern Arabs

Umayyad versus Arabia, two factions that disagree. Debate over conquest - one side wants to continue, the other doesn’t. One side believes it is superior, the other side believes in equality

Arab supremacy

Arabic becomes a literary language

Inventing Islam

Umayyads create what we know as Islam, living memory of Muhammad is fading so they are trying to preserve it. Homogenous Muslim identity is formed

Believers v. Muslims

Term “Believer” is phased out in exchange for “Muslim”

Life of Muhammad

Muhammad is canonized, seen as the last prophet. History of Islam written down that emphasizes his roleD

Dome of the Rock

Architectural symbol of newly emerging Muslim identity

Elevation of Quran

Seen as its own text, not a compilation

Islamic coins

Arabic inscriptions, no imagery

Al-Walid II

Umayyad caliph who is seen as too obsessed with worldly pleasures, has a desert party house

Qusayr Amra

Desert party house of Al-Walid II

Fresco of Six Kings

Fresco depicting kings of different places (Byzantine Empire, Sasanian shahs, Jewish rulers, Chinese emperors) looking as Al-Walid II’s throne

Yazid II

Declared caliph to replace Al-Walid II because he is pious and not earthly. Dies after 6 months and is replace by Marwan II

Marwan II

Last Umayyad caliph