The Arab Empire of the Umayyads (661-750)
Chapter 6 (parts 3+4 of 5)
Umayyad Build Arab Empire
Umayyad clan in control,
expand Arab empire
Umayyad empire not
intent on spreading
religion (not as religious as
next empire)
Never
appointed a
successor
Succession
(who would
lead) would
be constant
problem
Chaos After
Muhammad
Dies
Abu Bakr (a
friend)
chosen as
leader (632634)
Ali (son-inlaw) passed
over b/c he
was too
young
Arabs United by Abu Bakr
Ridda Wars = Abu Bakr successfully
defeats opposing Arab tribes
This unites Arabs, and allows them
to quickly expand their territory
Arabs Successfully Expand Through War
Islam
united the
Arabs
So,
motivated
by riches,
not jihad
Warriors
promised
riches from
conquest
Empires
around
Arabs weak
Arabs in
other
empires
helped
Sasanian Empire Crumbling
Majority of people farmers who
were taken advantage of by emperor
and upper class aristocracy
Zoroastrianism = religion of Sasanian
empire, but not extremely popular
Took Arab invaders lightly, and in
651, Arabs conquered them
Arabs helped by
people living in
Byzantine Empire:
Byzantine Empire
Also Weak
1)Many Arabs living
in Byzantine
Empire helped
2)Christians in Syria
and Egypt helped
(Byzantines taxed
and persecuted
them, Muslims
would not
Byzantine Empire lasted a few hundred
years longer, but was greatly weakened
Problem of Succession
Rears Its Ugly Head
Caliph = Muslim ruler
3rd caliph
= Uthman
2nd caliph =
Abu Bakr
1st caliph =
Muhammad
4th caliph
= ???
Uthman
murdered in
656, sparking
clan
violence/civil
war
Uthman was Umayyad
(rival of Muhammad) thus
not very popular
Most Muslims wanted Ali
(Muhammad’s son-in-law) as caliph
Battle of Siffin (657)
Ali about to
defeat
Umayyad at
Battle of Siffin
Ali persuaded to
negotiate with
Umayyad
Supporters
angry at Ali
and turn on
him
Umayyad
now in full
control of the
Arab empire
Ali assassinated
and his son
Hasan forced to
give up claim to
caliphate
Umayyad
name
Mu’Awiya as
next caliph
The Sunni-Shia (Shi’ite) Split
Sunni
Shia
- Supporters of Umayyad
- Supporters of Ali
- Majority of Muslims
- Minority (most left Ali)
In Karbala (in 680), Ali’s 2nd son, Husayn, killed by
Umayyad (Sunni and Shia have fought ever since)
Sunni Umayyad Expand Arab Empire
Temporarily solving issue of succession, Umayyad
expand Arab empire
Build biggest empire since Rome, and control Spain
to central Asia
Charles
Martel
Arab advance into Europe stopped by
Charles Martel at Poitiers
Umayyad make
Damascus capital
of empire
Arabs Control Non-Arabs
Umayyad empire so
large it controlled
many non-Arabs and
non-Muslims
Muslims treated best
in empire (first-class
citizens
No taxes on Muslims
except the zakat
(charity tax)
Umayyad Stop Intermarriage
Don’t want converts, less
money in taxes coming in
Kept warriors separated
from populations so
wouldn’t intermarry
Too difficult to stop
intermarriage
Mawali = converts to Islam,
still had to pay jizya (tax on
non believers)
Little incentive to convert,
so most didn’t
So Umayyad weren’t
focused on converting
people to Islam
Non-Muslims
living in Arab
empire
Called “People
of the Book”
(Bible)
Had to pay Jizya
(tax on nonbelievers)
Mostly left alone
by Umayyad
leaders
B/c left alone,
easier to accept
Arab rule
Dhimmis
The nonMuslims
Women had more
status in Umayyad
empire than in areas
it conquered
Muhammad had preached
treating women well
Umayyad
Women
Hadiths – traditions
set by Muhammad
(such as treating
women well
Umayyad
leaders living
lavishly
Stop fighting
wars, build
marble palaces
Muslims
getting very
upset
Discontent of Umayyad Grows
They’ve Got Some MERV
In city of Merv
(eastern Iran),
rebellion against
Umayyad begins
Why be ruled by
corrupt leaders
living life of luxury
far away
The Abbasid Rise to Power
Rebels
fighting the
Umayyad
unite under
the Abbasid
banner
Abbasid led
by Abu alAbbas,
greatgrandson of
al Abbas
Unite w/ Shia and
Mawali (converts
never felt accepted
– still paying jizya)
End of Umayyad
Battle on the
River Zab (750)
Abbasid defeat
Umayyad, get
Damascus, control
Arab empire