GW

Developments in Dar al-Islam Unit 1.2 - Vocabulary Flashcards

Abbasid Caliphate: Rise and Decline (c. 750 – 1258)

Abbasids (Muhammad's descendants) ruled Middle East/North Africa (750-1258). Decline due to invasions. Classical Islamic golden age for culture/scholarship.

Invasions and Conquerors

  • Egyptian Mamluks: Established Sultanate (1250–1517).

  • Seljuk Turks: Conquered parts of Middle East.

  • Crusaders: Fought for holy sites.

  • Mongols: Conquered Abbasid Empire (1258). Invasions weakened Abbasid authority.

Cultural Diffusion and Intellectual Life (The Abbasid Golden Age)

  • House of Wisdom (Baghdad): Learning/translation center.

  • Knowledge spread: Greek to Arabic, Indian math, Chinese papermaking.

  • Advancements: Medicine, trigonometry (al-Tusi), historiography (Ibn Khaldun).

Social Structure, Gender, and Class

  • Merchants: High status.

  • Slavery: Forbidden for Muslims/Christians/Jews/Zoroastrians; from Central Asia, Africa, Kievan Rus.

  • Women: Elevated status; dowries to bride, property rights, birth control, court testimony.

Trade, Economy, and Everyday Life

  • Merchant status boosted trade. Economy supported cultural/scientific flourishing.

Religion, Law, and Ethical Implications

  • Islam's expansion tied to state-building. Slavery norms and women's rights reflected legal evolution.

Comparative Prompt: Status of Women in Chinese vs. Islamic Societies (c. 1200–1450)

  • Compare gender norms, legal rights, economic roles, social expectations.

Geopolitical Context and Map Reference

  • Abbasid sphere included Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Iran, Arabian Peninsula, North Africa. Many regional centers and client states.

Key Dates and Signals to Remember

  • 750: Abbasid rise.

  • 1258: Mongol conquest ends Abbasid political authority.

  • 1250-1517: Mamluk Sultanate rises.

Connections to Other Lectures and Real-World Relevance

  • Islamic knowledge diffusion influenced European science. House of Wisdom: early interdisciplinary model. External pressures shaped history.

Summary Connections

  • Abbasid rise/decline shows how golden ages face external threats. Invasions altered politics; culture/science thrived. Intellectual achievements had global impact. Social structures/gender norms were progressive for the time.