Islam and Cultural
Encounters
A Four-Way Comparison
India, Anatolia, West Africa, and Spain
Background…
• Arab empire had all but disintegrated
politically by the tenth century
• Last Abbasid caliph killed when Mongols sacked
Baghdad in 1258
• But Islamic civilization continued to flourish and
expand
Case of India…
1. Turkic speaking invaders brought Islam to India
2. Establishment of Turkic and Muslim regimes in India beginning ca.
1000
a.
b.
At first violent destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples
Sultanate of Delhi (founded 1206) became more systematic
3. Emergence of Muslim communities in India
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Buddhists and low-caste Hindus found Islam attractive
Newly agrarian people also liked Islam
Subjects of Muslim rulers converted lightened tax burden
Sufis fit mold of Indian holy men, encouraged conversion-developed
“popular Islam” with Hind overlap
At height, 20-25% of Indian population converted to Islam
• Muslim communities concentrated in NW and Eastern India
• Deep Muslim/Hindu cultural divide
More India…
e. Monotheism vs. polytheism
f. equality of believers vs. caste system
g. sexual modesty vs. open eroticism
4. Interaction of Hindus and Muslims
a.
b.
c.
Many Hindus served Muslim rulers
Mystics blurred the line between two religions
Sikhism developed in early 16th century; syncretic religion with
elements of both Islam and Hinduism
• Founded by Guru Nanak
d.
Muslims remained as a distinctive minority
Islam in numbers…
Case of Anatolia (Turkey)
1. Turks invaded Anatolia about the same time as India
a.
b.
c.
Major destruction at early stages in both places
Sufi missionaries were important in both places
But in Anatolia by 1500, 90% of population was Muslim, and most
spoke Turkish
2. Reasons for the different results in two regions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Anatolia had a much smaller population *8 million vs. 48 million in
India)
Far more Turkic speakers settled in Anatolia
Much deeper destruction of Byzantine society in Anatolia
Active discrimination against Christians in Anatolia
India’s decentralized politics and religion could absorb the shock of
invasion better
Turkish rulers of Anatolia welcomed converts; fewer social barriers to
conversion
Sufis replaced Christian institutions in Anatolia
More Anatolia…
3. By 1500, the Ottoman Empire was the most powerful Islamic
state
4. Turks of Anatolia retained much of their culture after conversion
•
freer life for women persisted
Case of West Africa…
1. Islam came peacefully with traders, not conquest
2. In WA, Islam spread mostly to URBAN areas
a.
b.
Provided links to Muslim trading partners
Provided literate officials and religious legitimacy to state
3. By the 16th century, several WA cities were Islamic centers
1.
2.
3.
4.
Timbuktu had over 150 Quranic schools and several centers of higher
education
Libraries had tens of thousands of books
Rulers subsidized building of major mosques
Arabic became a language of religion, administration, educations,
and trade
4. Did not have significant Arab immigration
5. Sufis played little role until 18th century
6. No significant spread into countryside until 19th century
1.
Rulers made little effort to impose Islam or rule by Islamic law
Timbuktu, Mali…Mosque at
Jenne
Case for Spain…
1. Arab and Berber forces conquered most of Spain (al-Andalus) in
the early 8th century
2. Islam did not overwhelm Christianity there
3. High degree of interaction Between Muslims, Christians, and Jews
a.
b.
Some Christians converted to Islam
Some Christians Mozarabs adopted Arabic culture but not religion
4. Religious toleration started to breakdown by late 10th century
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Increasing war with Christian states of northern Spain
More puritanical forms of Islam entered Spain form North Africa
In Muslim-ruled regions, increasing limitations placed on Christians
Many Muslims were forced out of Christian conquered regions or
kept public practice of their faith
Completion of reconquest in 1492
a.
200,000 Jews expelled from Spain
Mosque at Cordoba, Spain