Islam

2 types of Bedouins

1. Those who settled near an oasis

2. nomads = constantly moving people (for food and water). This life was called badawah.

Define Badawah

Grim lifestyle with too many people competing for too few resources (food and water).

Define Glazu

A raid to acquire resources. Accepted as a way of life in times of scarcity, essential to badawah economy. Killing is unacceptable during a raid, this leads to vendettas.

What is Muruwah

Code of the Arabs.

-To preserve honor, tribe members must be willing to leap to kinsmen’s defense and obey the chief. (however sexual assault was condemned)

-Most important values were: courage, patience, endurance, avenging wrong-doings, and protecting the weak.

-Must be generous with food. Noble Bedouins gave lavish parties to show they valued their kinsmen more then their possessions.

Define Karim

one who is a generous hero

Define Hasah

Meaning ancestral honor. Each tribe had a special bond of muruwah passed down from generation to generation.

The sheikh

leader of a tribe. The tribe had supreme value, and everyone subordinated themselves for the good of the group.

Bedouin religion

They had no interest in conventional religion. Life was bleak and grim with no hope for the afterlife. Divergence from ancient customs was a great evil.

Medina and Mecca

The most important Arab towns.

Arabia at the time of Muhammad

Most Arabs live on the Arabian Peninsula, a largely desert region. The limited supplies caused feuds between clans so they did not unify.

Who was Muhammad

The founder of Islam.

-Was part of ruling family of Mecca

-He shares his visions with his family, he soon has a group of converts following him.

-Authorities in Mecca grow fearful of his growing influence. He got in trouble because he:

1. taught there was only one god.

2. promised followers heaven, but ancestors go to hell and are separated.

Islam

submission to will of God as explained by Muhammad (the faith)

What is Hijra

Muhammad’s escape (journey) from Mecca to Medina. He arrives in Medina amidst a time of chaos. He fills the role and gains a reputation, ultimately becoming the ruler of the city.

After banishing the Jews, he confiscates their wealth and gives it to his followers.

Difference between Muhammad and Jesus

Muhammad was a political figure while Jesus was not. Muhammad was a military leader, collected taxes, and arbitrated disputes.

Usury

To collect interest on loans

2 rules by Muhammad to the city of Mecca:

1. outlaws infanticide (community will help with funds for dowry)

2. Sanctified the Ka’bah (religious site in Islam). By doing this, he is replacing the pagan center of Arab belief with a monotheistic Islamic belief

What is the Qu’ran

The teachings of Muhammad complied in a holy book, written after his death by several followers. Some of the writings revisit or revise aspects of the Old Testament and New Testament. This holy book accepts Jesus as a messiah, but not as the son of God (Allah)

Define Allah

A term used in Islam to reference God.

The difference between the Islamic and Christian holy book:

In the Qu’ran it allows for people to defend themselves, however, in Christianity there is no such demand or allowance. This is because Islam was surrounded by enemy states.

What are the five pillars of Islamic faiths

Five duties that must be performed by every Muslim. They are essential to being a good Muslim.

1. Shehada

2. Salat

3. Sawm

4. Zakat

5. Hajj

What is Shehada of the five pillars?

The declaration of faith that every Muslim must believe in. It asserts that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. This is the only requirement for becoming a Muslim.

What is Salat (prayers) of the five pillars?

The purpose is to renew the commitment of following the path of God at all times, to ask forgiveness for sins, and to thank God for all that he does. It consists of five daily prayers, each at specific times throughout the day. Travelers are allowed to skip prayers but must make it up later.

What is Sawm (fasting) of the five pillars?

Required only during the month of Ramadan (based on lunar calendar). A Muslim abstains from eating, drinking, smoking, and other worldly pleasures from dawn to dusk. This act is intended to cultivate self-discipline, empathy for the less fortunate, and spiritual growth. Certain groups are excluded from fasting: elderly, sick, pregnant and nursing women, and travelers. However, these people are required to make up for any days they miss.

What is Zakat (almsgiving) of the five pillars?

Almsgiving must be paid by every Muslim who is capable of doing so. It is money given to those in need (recipients do not have to be Muslim); the amount is 2.5% of the individual’s salary. The idea is that everything someone owns is a gift from God, and therefore should be shared with those who do not have.

What is Hajj of the five pillars?

Required of every person who is able to afford it financially and physically. It is a five-day pilgrimage to Mecca, and can be broken down into nine necessary steps.

Define Caliph

meaning “God’s deputy,” a political leader or spiritual leader of the Muslim community, the head of a religiously defined community after the death of Muhammad.

The 4 caliph after Muhammad

1. Abu-Bakr

2. Umar

3. Uthman

4. Ali

Who was Abu-Bakr

The first caliph after Muhammad's death. He was successful at keeping the various tribes in Arabia under Muslim control and wins a civil war that arises between different Muslim clans.

Who was Umar

He replaces Abu Bakr and becomes the second caliph. He spreads Islam through the Middle East. He conquers the Fertile Crescent, along with Sassanid and Byzantine areas.

Who was Uthman

The 3rd caliph. He commissions the writing of the Qu’ran. He appoints deputies based on their family relationship to him (nepotism); rivals that fear this nepotism will lead to a caliphate dynasty assassinating him.

Who was Ali

The fourth caliph and an important deputy to Muhammad, but missed first three elections because he was too young. When he fails to go after Uthman’s murders, a civil war occurs. The Umayyads (Uthman’s family), rebel against Ali.

Who was Mu’awiya

He was the Umayyad governor of Damascus who leads the civil war against Ali and replaced Ali as caliph.

The Umayyads under him won the war, resulting in a dynasty of Umayyad caliphs and creating a dividing line between the Shia and the Sunni.

the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims

This split occurs over the selection of caliph.

• Sunni = Followers of Mu’awiya. Believe the caliph should be selected though merit or evidence of one’s ability to be a faithful and practicing Muslim.

• Shia = Supporters of Ali. Believed the caliph should be a descendant of Muhammad’s bloodline.

Who was Khalid ibn Walid

General of the Islamic army, given the nickname “The Sword of Allah.” He is known to win battles despite being outnumbered.

Battle of Chains

Against the Persians. Persian slaves were sent to fight but were chained together to prevent them from running away. Muslims win despite being outnumbered.

Battle of Qadisaya

Muslims defeat the Persians despite being outnumbered once again

Battle of Yarmuk

Khalid defeats the Byzantines despite being outnumbered

2 reasons to Islamic expansion and spread

1. Byzantines and Persians stop fighting due to exhaustion. Neither can stop Muslim invasions of parts of their territories under Umar.

2. Muslim invaders are tolerant of other religions. They did not rape or pillage (easier for people to cooperate). Followers of other religions were taxed, not persecuted. (Muslims did not pay tax, but paid for faith to provide alms).

What were the Dhimmis

Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians tolerated by the Muslim authority in exchange for tax payments.

The religious leaders were expected to maintain civil obedience from their communities. The taxes paid were generally lower than paid previously to the Roman or Persian gov’t.

2 types of tax payments to the Dhimmis

1. Jizya = wealth tax on non-Muslims on Muslim territory

2. Kharaj = land tax on non-Muslims on Muslim territory

Umayyad Caliphate

• The first major caliphate after the death of Muhammad. The move of the political capital to Damascus exposes the caliphate to Greco-Roman influence.

• Change the landscape of some cities, building sacred Islamic sites on other sites of other religions. This shows a changing nature in relations between Muslim rulers and non-Muslim subjects.

Abbasids Caliphate

• Islam gains converts in new territories they conquer. As a result, a hierarchy within the religion develops based on when a family converted. Descendants of those who followed Muhammad to Medina and of conquers, receive privileges. This creates opposition to Umayyad caliphate and they are toppled by Abbasids under Al Mansur

• The capital is moved to Baghdad and a round city is created

The Abbasid Bureaucracy:

• Vizier = official who administers for the caliph.

• Imam = someone with religious authority

• Ulama = religious scholars who decide interpretations of Shari’a law

• Mamluks = slaves who convert to Islam and train as soldiers and serve in private army for the caliphs. (gain enough power that the caliph has to fulfill their wishes)

Who wa Harun al Rashid

He is known to dress as a commoner and walk about the city to observe his subjects. Responsible for creating the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

—The House of Wisdom was an Academy for arts and sciences where scholars came together.

Who was Al Ma’mun

Tries to give the office of the caliph religious power.

He declares himself Imam and forces others to admit to his religion. This results in the ‘ulama asserting their right to interpret the Qur’an.

Who was Abd-al-Malik

Umayyad Caliph. Under him, Muslims replace the dhimmi as the political leaders of conquered areas and religion grows.

Caliphates after the death of Al Ma’mun

the caliphates will become fragmented, connected but ruled independently. In areas, caliphs are under the control of military. Islam ceases to operate under a single government.

Umayyad Spain

An example of caliph that emerge after the death of Al Ma’mun

Cordoba is ruled by a surviving branch of the Umayyads. The Umayyad prince Abd ar-Rahman had survived and escaped to Spain. Cordoba will become the greatest intellectual city in Europe.

Fatimids Caliphate

In North Africa claimed descent from Ali and Fatima. They seized Egypt, built Cairo as their new capital. Cairo will become a center of intellectual growth and trade. This is a period of triumph for the Shi’ites.

Ghaznawids Caliphate

• Ruled present-day Afghanistan and Iran (Turks who set up caliphates from mamluks).

• Retain some elements of Persian culture

• Responsible for the spread or Islam into India. The Caliph Mahmoud led an army into India to the Hindu holy temple. This causes years of hatred between Hindu’s and Muslims.

Saljuqids Caliphate

• They defeated the Ghaznawids and other local powers and became the new protectors of the Abbasid caliph

• Rewarded their cheif eader, Tughrul, the title of sultan.

• Constitute the first major influx of nomads into the Islamic East, causing friction with the settled populations (nomads vs farmers)

Define Sultan

derived from Arabic word for “power, the title was deemed superior to malik “king” and amir “prince."

What are Atabegs

Rulers like generals who take charge for maliks or sultans and govern on their behalf. Eventually make their offices hereditary and stop paying homage to the Saljuqid rulers, weakening their power.

Who was Hulegu Khan

Grandson of Ghengis Khan. He was given the task of expanding the Mongol empire into southwest Asia. This ends the Abbasid caliphate, who survive in Egypt as puppets.

He established a Mongol polity in Mesopotamia and the Iranian Plateau, that formed the fourth component of the Mongol World Empire.

What were Il-Khans

Hulegu Khan’s line of rulers

Who was Il-Khan Ghazan

• He converted to Islam and offered his patronage to Muslim subjects.

• His brother and successor followed much the same religious policy: Islam was there stay.

• Introduced paper money following the example of China, he met with determined opposition from the local population who did not like the innovation,.

Problems related to trade

• The spread of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) across trade lanes.

Mamluks of Egypt

• One of the most powerful Islamic polities.

• Defeated the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt and Syria amidst the turmoil of the Crusades.

• Religious passion of mamluks was due to being born non-Muslims. Many sultans built fortresses and mosques, therefore supporting defense, religion, and learning.

2 results of weak leadership of Saljuqids

1. Arrival of Christians, the firsts Crusade

2. Arrival of Mongols

The weakening of the Mamluk regime

They refuse to use new and more effective methods of warfare, including guns and artillery, because they saw them as inferior methods use by unskilled troops.

When the Ottoman Turks invaded with modern warfare, the mamluk army was crushed and the last sultan was defeated.

Mamluk leadership

Due to the inability to establish hereditary leadership, the mamluks consisted of experience military leaders as opposed to young or inexperience princes. The sultans were warlike and strategically capable, helping them oppose Crusades and Mongols.