Dar al-Islam and Africa

Strayer Ch.2 82-92

Worlds of Islam

  • Dar al-Islam

    • means house of Islam\
    • by 1200, was established along afro-eurasia
    • heartland was middle east and egypt
    • politically broken, but culture and religion remained strong and expanding

  • Abbasid Caliphate

    • ruled Islamic world since 750
    • power began to slip in the ninth century, local leaders started to take charge
    • capital was Baghdad
    • fell by mongol invasion

  • Seljuk Turkic Empire

    • starting in 1000, Turkic pastoralists came to Islamic world
    • started as slaves in Abbasid but took power when the caliphate declined
    • 11th and 12th centuries
    • Converted to Islam and Turkish rulers became new reps of Islamic pwr.
    • rulers took name of sultan rather than traditional turkish name

  • Ottoman Empire

    • One of many Turkic warrior groups
    • brought political unity to mid. east + n africa
    • as they expanded into the edge of europe, a christian population arose
    • results in capital Constantinople
    • Lasted until early 20th century in a way
    • One of the most impressive dynasties in history
    • substansial culture, economy, and population
    • “renewed unity to Islamic world while still a protector of faith”

  • India

    • Turkic groups spreading Islam to India
    • led to conflict with Hindu groups
      • violent, destroying temples
    • \
    • as Tukic prescence increased, people converted to Islam
    • to avoid Jizya
    • but india never fully converted to islam
    • Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1646)
    • controlled all of southern india at it’s height
    • had peaceful Hindu/Muslim encounters
      • Muslim merchants

  • Spain

    • site of Christian/Jewish mixing

    • Conquered by Muslim power in the early 8th century

    • Capital was Cordoba

    • Muslim spain flourished

      • economy was the best in europe
      • strong culture
      • stem and arts

    • relationships of people of different faiths were easy/common

    • by 1000, most converted to Islam

    • Eventually, they stopped being religous tolerant, and warfare broke out

      • people of different faiths didnt get along

    • Finally reunited with Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492

    • (catholic leaders)

    • Took Granada (last Muslim stronghold on Ib. Peninsula)

    • Outlawed Islam and Judaism

      • people imigrated to N. Africa or Ottoman
      • or people converted

  • Africa

    • Swahili Coast
    • city states on Africa’s east coast
    • Significant involvement with Indian Ocean Trade
    • African products had high demand in Arabia, Persia, India, etc
      • transformed economy and towns
    • by 1200, the coast was urbanized and cities had populations in the tens of thousands
      • each city had its own king and was indep.
    • Became Islamic
      • introduced by Arab merchants
      • Check page 89 bottom paragraph for more. Im confused
    • West Africa
    • civi. driven by trade and Islam
      • trans- Saharan trade
      • international trade created hierarchy for all civis.
      • veryyyy patriarchal
    • A few large states
      • Ghana, Mali, Songhay, Kanem-Bornu
      • Large cities witjin
      • some of which were similar to swahili cities = Hasua cities
        • ex: Kano
      • elaborate monarchies and militaries
    • Slavery
      • most slaves were women working in a domestic space
      • men were in mines and fields doing harsh labor
      • most slaves came from farther, non Islamic states
      • Trans Saharan slave trade
      • slaves made long walk across desert to serve in wealthy homes