The Empirical World of Islam
Umayyad and Abbasid Age
Thought Quiz
“Islamic beliefs and culture exerted a
powerful influence in all areas occupied
by Arab armies…through the prism of
Islam the areas under Islamic control
were dramatically transformed.”
Assess the validity of this statement
Umayyad Dynasty
After Muhammad’s death expansion and uncertainty
reigned for a century.
The answer to dynastic/caliphate succession was
answered by the formation of this dynasty in 661 CE.
Arab military aristocracy centered in Damascus
Controlled “Dar al-Islam
Arab controlled alienated other ethnicities.
Jizya
Arab/Non Arab Muslims were differentiated
Abbasid Caliphate
Persian rebellion led by Abu al-Abbas in
750 ended Umayyad rule.
More tolerant
More “cosmopolitan” and urban
Expansion of a lesser interest than
under the Umayyad.
Did add parts of Europe to their empre
Centered around Baghdad
Abbasid Achievements
Signature leader: Harun al-Rashid
Signature event: House of Wisdom
Brought down by the Mongol Catastrophe
Literary achievements: Arabian Nights
(Aladdin) and the Rubiyat
Political achievements: Ulama and Qadis
Organized bureaucracy and standing army
Abbasid Philosophy and Religion
Quran and Sharia form
moral guidelines
Ulama, Qadis agents of
judgement of these
guidelines
Sufi mystics: Al Gahzali,
brilliant missionaries
Averroes (Ibn Rushd)
Other Empires: Seljuk Turks
Seljuk Turks: military
mercenaries for the
Abbasid, challenged the
Empire in the 11th
Century. Real military
and political power in
the late Abbasid Age.
Routed the Byzantines
at Manzikert in 1071
Smaller dynasties
Fatimids: Shiite dynasty in Egypt-973
Almohads
“Moors”
Almohads: Morocco,
Southern Spain,
Algeria
Reconquista