End of the Islamic Golden Age
Significant Events
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Disintegration of Moslem Spain 1000-1030
Rise of mysticism
Crusades
Mongol Conquests
Disintegration of Moslem Spain
1000-1030
• Islamic Spain was intellectually lively but
politically chaotic
• Dictator Al-Mansur played off aristocracy,
mercenary soldiers and slave bureaucracy
against each other.
• After his death, Spain collapsed into revolt
and civil war, and fragmented into small
states
• Advance of Christian Spain facilitated
Rise of Mysticism
• Al-Ghazzali (1058-1111)
• Left distinguished career as jurist and
professor to found a mystical school
• Eastern Islam moved away from rationalist
theology toward mysticism
Crusades
• Perception of Crusaders as uncivilized and
inept
• Set stage for Turkish advance into Europe
• Reduced tolerance for Christianity
Mongol Conquests
• Sack of Baghdad destroyed the greatest
remaining Islamic cultural center
• Death of Caliph a shattering blow to
Islamic self-confidence
• Loss of Caliphate meant loss of
unifying force in Islam
A Perspective
on the
Islamic
Golden Age