Muslim Civilization Section 2

The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Who would lead the group and keep it unified? The answer affected the faith’s spread and its future.

• Muhammad had not named successor

• No clear candidate

• Abu Bakr, close companion, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor”

Muhammad’s Successors

• Abu Bakr focused on bringing back bedouin tribes

• Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control

• Reunified Arabia, led forces north

Priorities

• Abu Bakr, successor Umar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly

• 637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq

• 642 victory over Persian Empire complete

Expansion of Territory

Islam after Muhammad’s Death

Muslim Civilization Section 2

More Expansion

• After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west

• Byantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem

• 639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule

Internal Conflict and Division

• Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph

• Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali

• 644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad

Empire

• Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire

• Conquests continued under later caliphs

• 661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East

More Expansion

Muslim Civilization Section 2

• Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph

• Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet”

• Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads.

• Became known as the Shiites, “party of Ali”

Sunnis and Shias

• Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular

• Uthman killed by rebels

• Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun

• Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control

Ali’s Troubles

Civil War

Muslim Civilization Section 2

The Shiites and Imams

Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants

• Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs

• Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam

– Imam means “leader”

– For the Shiites, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Further Division

• Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shiites have remained bitter

• Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis

• Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals

Conflict

• Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shiites after deaths of Mu’awiya and Ali

• Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim

• Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid

• Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Find the Main Idea

What was the result of the succession conflict?

Answer(s): Two different Muslim groups emerged—the Sunni and the Shiites

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim rule spread. Internal problems weakened the Umayyads, though, and led to their fall.

• Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn

• Achievements:

– Established Arabic as official language

– Made coinage uniform throughout empire

– Began first great work of Islamic architecture, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Continued Expansion• Armies conquered territory to

borders of China, Indus River Valley, to east

• Took northern Africa, most of Spain, to west

• Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however

Military Conquests

The Umayyad Dynasty

Muslim Civilization Section 2

• Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size

• Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered

• Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality

• Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition

• Displeasure with Umayyads widespread

• Shiites continued opposition

• Also unrest among conquered people, some Arab tribes

• Umayyads weakened by discontent, time ripe for rebellion

End of the Umayyads• Abbasids, led by descendant of

Muhammad’s uncle, united many Umayyad opponents by appearing to support their causes

• Abbasids wiped out Umayyads in series of battles, late 740s

• Caliphate entered Abbasid dynasty

Rebellion

Ruling the Empire

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Sequence

What events brought about the end of the Umayyad dynasty?

Answer(s): A family called the Abbasids took advantage of discontent with the Umayyads and established a new caliphate.

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Baghdad

• Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor

• Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq

Government

• Rulers cut off from people

• Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen

• Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state

Persian Influence

• Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world

• Abbasids adopted Persian style of government

Change in Islam

• Nature of Islam changed

• Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures

The Abbasid Dynasty

Muslim Civilization Section 2

• Trade helped fund cultural achievement

• Most prominent Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, helped bring culture to great heights, 786 to 809

• Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences

Funding for Change

• Islam spread through trade

• Muslim traders journeyed from end to end of caliphate, exchanging goods and information

• Exchange brought Islam to West Africa, Southeast Asia

Importance of Trade

A Changing Culture

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Contrast

How did the Abbasids differ from the Umayyads?

Answer(s): The Abbasids focused more on prosperity and cultural advancement than on empire expansion.

Muslim Civilization Section 2

As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate.

• European Christians weakened Muslim rule

• Christian armies began to drive Muslims out of Spain, 1000s

• European Christians began Crusades

– Wanted to make Holy Land Christian, won at first

– Muslims eventually retook Jerusalem

Challenges from Europe• 969, serious threat, Fatimid

dynasty established in Egypt

• Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah

• From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea

• Disrupted Abbasid trade

• Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids

Problems from Egypt

The End of Unity

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Seljuk Turks

• Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks

• 1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad

• Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph

Mamluks and Mongols

• 1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria

• 1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished

• Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia

War Against Byzantine Empire

• Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert

• Seljuks would go on to create own empire

Seljuk Turks and Others

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Muslim Civilization Section 2

Summarize

What forces ended the unity of the caliphate?

Answer(s): Abbasids lost political power when small independent states broke away.