WAP Overview of Dar al-Islam (1200–1450)

Dar al-Islam

Regions with Islamic communities and often Islamic governance.

Islamic Caliphate

A new empire type that introduces a new political and religious structure, distinct from re-establishment empires.

Theocracy

A system of governance that combines religion and governance, with Islam as the predominant religion.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam, established in 610 CE in the Middle East as a monotheistic faith.

Five Pillars of Islam

The foundational acts of worship and practice in Islam.

Shahada

The declaration of one God, with Muhammad as His prophet.

Salat

The practice of praying five times daily toward Mecca.

Zakat

Charity (almsgiving) to support the community.

Sawm

Fasting during Ramadan from sunrise to sunset.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca's Kaaba at least once in a lifetime.

Caliph

The leader of the Islamic Caliphate, responsible for governing the empire.

Sunni Muslims

Muslims who advocate for a merit-based caliph, not requiring blood relation to Muhammad.

Shia Muslims

Muslims who believe the caliph should be blood-related to Ali, leading to a religious and political divide.

Umayyad Dynasty

A dynasty (661-750 CE) known for its expansionist policies and exclusion of non-Arabs from government.

Abbasid Dynasty

A dynasty (750-1258 CE) marked by a Golden Age of peace and prosperity.

Sharia Law

Based on the Quran, it regulates food, family dynamics, community relations, business transactions, and morals.

Polytheists

Groups actively converted to Islam, often through enslavement, with conversion leading to freedom.

Monotheists

Christians and Jews, respected as believers in the same deity, allowed to live in autonomous communities.

jizya tax

A tax paid by non-Muslims to maintain autonomy and contribute to the empire.

Trade as Wealth Source

The Abbasids focused on trade rather than conquest due to geographical barriers.

Islamic Merchants

Dominated Indian Ocean trade due to widespread presence and standardized trade rules.

Dhow Ships

Ships equipped with lateen sails, enabling efficient cargo transport in the Indian Ocean.

Monsoon Winds

Recognized as a 'technology' for AP purposes due to their predictable patterns (one direction for half the year, opposite for the other half).

Diasporic Communities

Muslim merchants settled in regions like India, forming communities and building mosques.

Spread of Islam

Merchants: Converted to Islam for trade benefits (consistent rules, Arabic literacy), spreading religion through trade networks.

Sufi Missionaries

Mystics who traveled lightly and tolerated local animistic/polytheistic practices.

Cultural Diffusion

Trade, intermarriage, and missionary work spread Islam to India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa (Swahili city-states).

House of Wisdom (Baghdad)

A library and study center (not a university) where scholars conducted independent research under masters.

Key Innovations

Papermaking: Adopted from China, enabled recording of knowledge and advancements.

Arabic Numerals

Adapted from Hindu numerals (Gupta Empire), introduced concepts like zero, infinity, and decimals, leading to algebra and trigonometry.

Astrolabe

Used for navigation and determining Mecca's direction, relying on trigonometry and star/horizon measurements.

Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine

A medical encyclopedia compiling knowledge from Greece, India, China, and Islamic studies, detailing diseases like smallpox and treatments.

Early hospitals

Attached to mosques, separated sick individuals, reducing disease spread (e.g., bubonic plague).

Advancements in anatomy

Surgical sutures (using animal gut), and surgery, surpassing European capabilities due to Christian restrictions on dissection.

Astronomy and Mathematics

Built on Greek and Indian knowledge to model planetary motion (imperfect circular models) and calculate lunar calendars.

Vision Theories

Incorrectly theorized eyesight functioned like smell (particles entering the eye), but advanced understanding of light and optics.

Caliphate Structure

Combines religious and political authority under the caliph, with viziers and Sharia law managing a vast bureaucracy.

Sunni-Shia Split

Rooted in succession disputes (merit vs. hereditary), shaping Islamic governance and religious practices.

Treatment of Non-Muslims

Polytheists converted (often via slavery), while monotheists paid jizya for autonomy, promoting social stability.

Trade Dominance

Muslim merchants leveraged Sharia law, Arabic, dhow ships, and monsoon winds to dominate Indian Ocean trade.

Golden Age Innovations

House of Wisdom, papermaking, Arabic numerals, astrolabe, and medical advancements (e.g., Canon of Medicine, hospitals) drove intellectual progress.

Study Tips

Memorize key terms: Five Pillars, caliph, Sunni-Shia split, Sharia law, jizya tax, House of Wisdom, Canon of Medicine, astrolabe, monsoon winds.