the abbasid empire and sectarian divides

@mmw12

abu muslim of khurasan

• persian convert

• lots of propaganda

• joined "black banners of abbasids"

• got malawis to challenge umayyads

al-mansur’s claim of lineage

• claimed descent from one of muhammad's uncles, first ruler of abbasids

abbasid victory in 750

• overthrew umayyads with help of shi'a

baghdad as capital

• shift to east shows persian heritage, "circle city", beautiful and well developed

khalifa’s absolue authority

• hereditary succession, government was a centralized theocracy

khurasan regiments

• professional soldiers, Abbasids became so reliant on them that they controlled the Abbasids by the tenth century

harun al-rashid

• Resigned during the height of the Abbasid Empire, gave gifts of money to the poor

crisis of succession after harun al-rashid

• Harun al-Rashid attempted to prevent conflict by dividing his empire between his two sons:

  • Al-Amin (r. 809–813): Named heir and given control over Baghdad and the western territories.

  • Al-Ma’mun (r. 813–833): Given authority over Khorasan (Persia) and eastern provinces.

• Al-Amin, seeking full control, removed Al-Ma’mun from the line of succession and declared himself sole caliph. This led to war.

kharijites

• Emphasis that leadership should be based on merit and piety instead of lineage, utopian model of equality, assassinated Ali, the fourth caliphate, rejected the Umayyads and Abbasids

zanj slave revolt

• inspired belief that some Muslims were benefitting by the misery of other Muslims, East African slaves led by Ali Muhammad, used Kharijite propaganda

shi’a

• sect of islam that believes that ali was the rightful successor to muhammed. Focus on common members of society

fatima

• daughter of muhammad and wife of Ali

martyrdom of al-husayn

• rallying point against abbasids, son of Ali

fatimid caliphate

• a Shi'a caliphate, capitalized on the subversive ideology of the heterodox sext, new capital in 973 set up in al-Quahira, which was the extent of Fatimid power

the mahdi

• messianic figure, Shi'a redeemer who would come at Judgement Day to rectify good and bad Muslims

sufism

• worldly detachment

• reaction to secularization of islam

• emphasis on inner spiritual life

contemplative practices

• Sufism does not focus as much on laws of Qur'an but inner contemplative self of Muhammad

whirling dervishes

• Emphasizing contemplation and personal mystical experience with God, dancing is one of the ways people can reach communion with the divine