Umayyad / Abbasid

Umayyad - Time Period

661-750 CE

Abbasid - Time Period

750-1258 CE

Umayyad - Geographic Description

-began in Arabia, moved out of peninsula both west -Egypt, across North Africa as far as Spain (Moors), east to Persia and Northern India (Indus); northern boundary was the Byzantine Empire -Religion spread Africa, Asia, Southern Europe via trade and conquest -by 700, conquered Spain (west) Central Asia (east) -Holy city = Mecca (hajj) and also Medina (hijra)

Abbasid - Geographic Description

- smaller geographically, centered in Middle East - more extensive trade not only overland but overseas but dominated the Indian Ocean Trade Network

Umayyad - Political

-influenced by Byzantine and Persian traditions -capital = Damascus (more central than Mecca) -4 caliphs 632- 660 prior to the start of Dynasty; the clan claim caliphate and begin Shiite (Shia) –Sunni split that continues to today; Sunni dominated! - jihad = holy war in defense of faith; large reason why empire spread

Abbasid - Political

- 2nd Caliphate - capital = Baghdad - centralized absolutist imperial order formed - bureaucratization = reflected growing power of caliph -1055 Caliph will be a puppet of the Seljuk Turks (nomads from Central Asia) will remain that way until collapse

Umayyad - Economic

-key link to trade - tax on non-believers -agrarian based used Qanat system (water storage system of Persia)

Abbasid - Economic

- large trading network (over land and overseas)...Indian Ocean trading network from east African city –states of Sofala, Mogadishu, Kilwa to Spice islands in modern day Indonesia – port of Malacca - credit, banks -use of spreading beliefs and culture -agriculture - converts exempt to pay head tax - revival of Afro-Eurasian trade that subsided after collapse of Rome and Han - new commercial enterprises - purchase of land

Umayyad - Religion

-Islam -spread by merchants, mystics, and warriors -rival = Christendom -began in Arabian peninsula -Quran = holy book -Sunni -tolerant

Abbasid - Religion

- more converts - Sunni dominated - Tolerant - Trade spread Islam into Afghanistan, Pakistan and Western China because of Silk road and East, West Africa, as well as Spice Islands - 1095 – Seljuk Turks invade Palestine and initiate the Crusades last until 1291 (even after empire collapses)

Umayyad - Social

- Bedouin = pastoral nomads, kin-related clans instrumental in spreading Islam -Non-Arab Muslims had fewer rights than Arab Muslims -Muslim Arabs were first class, in the military, and shared the conquest booty -Mawali = Muslim Converts -greater portion of the population = dhimmis (People of the Book Christians, Jews) -The emergence of Islam preached equality  women status raised -allowed 4 wives maximum -women not allowed to lead prayers -women could study scholarship law, and commerce

Abbasid - Social

- rejected old allies - bureaucrats, servants, slaves worked within Baghdad - Caliph = religious/political leader - merchants became rich; trade very respected - artisans = developed guilds, worked in workshops but produced fine textiles, carpets, and glassware - unskilled labor left to slaves (most slaves came from Africa and used as domestics - zanj slaves = captured Africans -increased seclusion of upper class women in harem and veiling

Umayyad - Intellectual

-development of war tactics and weaponry -building of Mosques in conquered areas

Abbasid - Intellectual

- mathematics algebra, geometry - science astronomy, medicine, anatomy -study of Greek, Greco-roman culture -study of Indian knowledge –spread number system; becomes known as Hindi-Arabic system as a result -learning = importance -oral poetry, books  A Thousand and One Nights -Qur’an = most important book -libraries, universities - converts advanced schooling and career  administrators, judges, traders - Persian, Hellenistic, Indian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian centers (domains) - Christian and Jewish learning - Indian system of numbers (Arabic numbers) was spread through trade -Medicine (hospitals, ER’s, surgeries, Cannon of Medicine

Umayyad - Arts

-gardens, marble palaces, mosques (geometrical designs)

Abbasid - Arts

- Arab, Persian, Egyptian, and European mixture - Byzantine (Greco-Roman )domes and arches -nonreligious art could portray humans -geometric patterns shown in religious art; forbids graven images - dhows = ships that carried goods; lateen sails; navigational equip - religious schools, baths, rest houses - luxury items = glassware, jewelry, tapestries

Umayyad - Decline

- elite became corrupt; indulged in Harem -Battle of Tours in 732 was a Muslim defeat -Abbasid family challenged armies in 747 - most of the revolters were Shiite - -Abu al-Abbas (prophet’s uncles’ great-grandson) ordered all family to be slain at great feast -survivor was one grandson of former caliph who fled to Spain...Cordova

Abbasid - Decline

-began to decline in mid 10th century - extensive land; rebellions occurred - slave revolts, peasant uprisings - sharp decrease in resources - Mongol invasions ended caliphate in 1258 with taking of Baghdad

Umayyad - Global Connections/Interactions

- largest empire at the time in history and prior -faith spread mostly through conquest

Abbasid - Global Connections/Interactions

- Seljuk Turks (nomads from central Asia) moved into empire in late 1000s and control caliphate but keep caliph as puppet ruler -Seljuk’s go on to take Palestine which was controlled by Byzantine Empire - Crusades start 1095-1291 -Christians failed to permanently recapture Holy Land with the major reason being Saladin (great Islamic warrior) - Western Europe would “awaken” from “Dark Ages” because of contact with Islamic world – Crusades were Europe’s most successful failure -The intellectual capabilities were truly impressive and at the Abbasid height... comparable to Tang –Song China -dominated Indian Ocean/Asian Sea trade network -when Mongols collapsed Baghdad, kept going where they were defeated by Egyptian slave soldiers (Mamluks) ; Mongols then retreated cause a power void to be filled by Ottoman Turks under Osman (forged 1st gunpowder empire)

Difference between Umayyad and Abbasid (in simple terms)

Umayyads: Focused on expanding the empire and conquering new places. Abbasids: Focused on learning, culture, and making their empire a center of knowledge.