Learning Objectives
Explain the causes and effects of the rise of Islamic states over time.
Reading Questions
- What was the name of the empire prior to the Abbasid?
- Explain how the Abbasid used each of the following to centralize and legitimize their rule: Baghdad, Sharia Law, Qadis, Caliph, Mosques, Jizya Tax
- The Abbasid Empire began to crumble in the 1100s and 1200s due to attacks from outsiders. Use this Graphic Organizer to learn about the spread of Islam to these regions and its impact.
- What are Sufi?
- What is Sikhism?
- What was the Bhakti Movement?
The Abbasid Empire
Conquest
There were many reasons Islam spread quickly. Islam had a lot enthusiasm and actively spread along the Arabian Peninsula. These nomadic pastoralists easily conquered land and spread Islam. Another factor that made it easier to conquer was that most states were decaying at this time. Lastly, Muslims were tolerant of other religions and did not forcefully convert anyone.
After Muhammad the ruling dynasty was called the Umayyad (632 CE-750 CE). The Umayyad fell in 750 after 10 years of unrest. Pious Muslims believed that the ruling family no longer followed Islam's true teachings. The Umayyad faced many rebellions in their providences. The Abbasid family used their military to conquer this weakening dynasty and kill all of the family members except one that fled to Spain and established the Al Andalus caliphate.
Centralized Empire and governing techniques
The Abbasid established their capital in Baghdad. From there they continued to used providences and administrators to control the empire. Administrators were responsible for making sure people are obedient to the emperor. For this they used the Koran as a guiding text. However, the Koran does not cover every aspect of ruling and empire so the Abbasids used Sharia Law. This was law created by Muslim Scholars based on the Koran and the teaching of Muhammad. These scholars were called Ulama. The Abbasid also had judges called Qadis to interpret Sharia Law and decide on punishment's. Sharia Law is still used in many countries today. The other responsibilities of the administrators included collecting taxes, overseeing public works projects, regulating the local markets, and controlling the local military.
The caliph was the ruler of the Abbasid empire. What exactly is a caliph? The caliph is the successor to Muhammad, and like Muhammad, both the religious leader of the Muslim church in a country and the political leader. The Abbasid were Sunni Muslims so they believed that anyone could be caliph and not just Muhammad's family. Thus the caliph becomes a source of religious and political authority. As a result, the Abbasid claim to be legitimate rulers of the empire by using the power of the military and the power of the Koran.
The Abbasid used the taxes to centralize their rule. The Abbasids also used roads and postal service using taxes to increase communication and increase the movement of troops. They also created canals and qanats to improve farming. This also increased farming and trade and thus increases taxes.
The Caliph builds mosques (place of worship) all over the empire to assimilate subjects and create a sense of unity. Building places of worship indoctrinates people into following the rules of Islam. Mosques not only create obedience but also creates cultural unity. Cultural unity also was achieved by enforcing Arabic as an official language and used a standardized currency. Standardized currency facilitated trade and collecting taxes. So people spoke the same language, followed the same religion and used the same money. However, not all subjects were Muslims. Muslims were tolerant to other cultures and other religions but they did treat them differently. Non Muslims paid the Jizya tax in addition to regular taxes. This additional tax convinced a lot of non Muslims to convert.
The main effect of these government techniques was Pax Islamica. A long period of peace led to increased trade, urbanization and innovation. The Abbasid would become weak. This allowed the Turks, who had been slaves, to become the true rulers of the Abbasid Empire. Abbassid rulers were only religious figure heads to the Turks. The Abbasid would eventually fall to the Mongols in 1258 with the fall of Baghdad.
There were many reasons Islam spread quickly. Islam had a lot enthusiasm and actively spread along the Arabian Peninsula. These nomadic pastoralists easily conquered land and spread Islam. Another factor that made it easier to conquer was that most states were decaying at this time. Lastly, Muslims were tolerant of other religions and did not forcefully convert anyone.
After Muhammad the ruling dynasty was called the Umayyad (632 CE-750 CE). The Umayyad fell in 750 after 10 years of unrest. Pious Muslims believed that the ruling family no longer followed Islam's true teachings. The Umayyad faced many rebellions in their providences. The Abbasid family used their military to conquer this weakening dynasty and kill all of the family members except one that fled to Spain and established the Al Andalus caliphate.
Centralized Empire and governing techniques
The Abbasid established their capital in Baghdad. From there they continued to used providences and administrators to control the empire. Administrators were responsible for making sure people are obedient to the emperor. For this they used the Koran as a guiding text. However, the Koran does not cover every aspect of ruling and empire so the Abbasids used Sharia Law. This was law created by Muslim Scholars based on the Koran and the teaching of Muhammad. These scholars were called Ulama. The Abbasid also had judges called Qadis to interpret Sharia Law and decide on punishment's. Sharia Law is still used in many countries today. The other responsibilities of the administrators included collecting taxes, overseeing public works projects, regulating the local markets, and controlling the local military.
The caliph was the ruler of the Abbasid empire. What exactly is a caliph? The caliph is the successor to Muhammad, and like Muhammad, both the religious leader of the Muslim church in a country and the political leader. The Abbasid were Sunni Muslims so they believed that anyone could be caliph and not just Muhammad's family. Thus the caliph becomes a source of religious and political authority. As a result, the Abbasid claim to be legitimate rulers of the empire by using the power of the military and the power of the Koran.
The Abbasid used the taxes to centralize their rule. The Abbasids also used roads and postal service using taxes to increase communication and increase the movement of troops. They also created canals and qanats to improve farming. This also increased farming and trade and thus increases taxes.
The Caliph builds mosques (place of worship) all over the empire to assimilate subjects and create a sense of unity. Building places of worship indoctrinates people into following the rules of Islam. Mosques not only create obedience but also creates cultural unity. Cultural unity also was achieved by enforcing Arabic as an official language and used a standardized currency. Standardized currency facilitated trade and collecting taxes. So people spoke the same language, followed the same religion and used the same money. However, not all subjects were Muslims. Muslims were tolerant to other cultures and other religions but they did treat them differently. Non Muslims paid the Jizya tax in addition to regular taxes. This additional tax convinced a lot of non Muslims to convert.
The main effect of these government techniques was Pax Islamica. A long period of peace led to increased trade, urbanization and innovation. The Abbasid would become weak. This allowed the Turks, who had been slaves, to become the true rulers of the Abbasid Empire. Abbassid rulers were only religious figure heads to the Turks. The Abbasid would eventually fall to the Mongols in 1258 with the fall of Baghdad.
Islam in India, Africa, Spain and Anatolia
As the Abbasid Caliphate fragmented, new Islamic political entities like the Seljuk Dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate emerged, most of which were dominated by Turkic peoples. These states demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversity.
Muslim rule continued to expand to many parts of Afro-Eurasia due to military expansion, as in Al Andalusia and India with the Delhi Sultanate. However, Islam also expanded through the activities of merchants, missionaries, and Sufis as in Mali and Anatolia.
These Muslim states and empires encouraged significant intellectual innovations and transfers. Those innovations and transfers would have an impact on modern society.
Muslim rule continued to expand to many parts of Afro-Eurasia due to military expansion, as in Al Andalusia and India with the Delhi Sultanate. However, Islam also expanded through the activities of merchants, missionaries, and Sufis as in Mali and Anatolia.
These Muslim states and empires encouraged significant intellectual innovations and transfers. Those innovations and transfers would have an impact on modern society.
Objective
Explain the effects of intellectual innovation in Dar al-Islam.
Explain the effects of intellectual innovation in Dar al-Islam.
- What was the House of Wisdom?
- Why was the Chinese invention of paper important?
- What Roman and Greek knowledge did Muslims preserve?
- What did Islamic scholars develop in the fields of mathematics and science?
- What did Islamic scholars develop in the fields of medicine and anatomy?
- What innovations and/or transfers were important for travel?
Introduction
Similar to China, the Abbasid Caliphate witnessed major advancements in mathematics and science. While the early political stability of the Abbasid Caliphate played a role, most historians argue these major developments were the result of the dar al-Islam. Dar al-Islam refers to the Islamic cultural community stretching across Afro-Eurasia. The dar al-Islam is not a state or empire. instead, it contains several Islamic governments in Afro-Eurasia, including the Abbasid Caliphate. By being united through their Islamic faith and Arabic language, trans regional interactions between Muslims increased significantly, leading to new developments that greatly impacted the world. for example, every year, Muslims throughout Afro-Eurasia complete the Hajj; the required pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims traveled to Mecca and interacted with other Muslims, trading crops, Ideas and technologies. When the Hajj was over, Muslims returned to their homeland, diffusing new crops, ideas, and technologies. The best example of trans regional interaction in dar al-Islam is the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, where many Muslim scholars traveled to in order to study and expand their knowledge.
Abbasid Cultural and Technological Innovations
Muslims also helped spread other technologies used in travel. The most significant technology spread by Muslims used in travel was the
Greek astrolabe. Muslim merchants and sailors used the Astrolabe to safely travel in the ocean and dessert. The Astrolabe would later be used by Europeans to sail across the Atlantic Ocean getting to the Americas. |
The House of Wisdom in Baghdad
Scholars from all over the Abbasid empire from different backgrounds including Jews, Christians and Muslims met together in the Baghdad libraries to exchange ideas. The empire gathered books from all over the world for these scholars to review. Muslim scholars were able to assimilate the knowledge of prior civilizations including the Greeks and Romans, the Chinese and Gupta empires. Once studies these scholars questioned, added to, and commented on those texts. Averroes was one of those Muslim scholars. He was strong proponent of Aristotelianism; he attempted to restore what he considered the original teachings of Aristotle. Muslims scholars used the new invention of paper form the Chinese to spread the ideas gathered throughout the empire. Most importantly, scholars in the House of Wisdom were able to continue the existing knowledge of prior cultures. They translated Greek literary classics from Aristotle, Plato and others into Arabic. Greek ideas on democracy and Roman ideas on what a republic is were preserved by these Muslim scholars. They were also able to study and spread Hindu-Arabic numerals. These are the symbols we use today. Additionally, Muslim scholars were able to use the Chinese innovations of paper and block printing to spread knowledge through out the empire. |
Agriculture
Cultural Diffusion in the Dar al-Islam led to the exchange of new crops, techniques and ideas. The most important of the transplants were staple crops such as sugarcanes, rice, and and wheat. Vegetables such as spinach, artichokes and eggplant, fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, bananas, coconuts, watermelons, and mangoes; and industrial crops such as cotton, indigo, and henna. The introduction of these heat resistant crops into the western regions of the Islamic world had wide ranging effects. New food crops led to a richer, more diverse diet. They also increased food supply because farmers could grow food in hot weather. Cultivators in southwest Asia, North Africa, and other hot zones could produce food all year. This resulted in a dramatic increase in food supply. Some new crops were used in industry. The most important of these was cotton, which became the basis for a textile industry throughout much of the Islamic world. Indigo and henna produced dyes that textile manufacturers used in large quantities. Muslims created manuals using paper that demonstrated irrigation feralization and crop rotations. This knowledge spread through out the known Islamic world as well as to Western Europe.
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Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
Nasir al- Din Al Tusi was an astronomer and mathematician that became trusted by the Mongol after the invasion of Baghdad and became instrumental in the advancement of Astronomy. Al-Tusi wrote many commentaries on Greek texts including the work of Ptolemy. Some historians argue that Nasir al Din's work was influential in Copernicus' theories on planetary motion that would later influence Galileo and the European Scientific Revolution.
ʿĀ’ishah bint Yūsuf al-Bāʿūniyyah
She was a Sufi master a Poet. Aishah was one of the few women who got their work published during medieval times. She composed over twenty works, and likely wrote more Arabic prose and poetry than any other Muslim woman prior to the twentieth century.
Emirate of Cordoba Cultural and Technological Innovations
Cordoba Spain
Al Adalusia, the name of Arabic Spain, became the largest center of learning in Muslim Europe. The city of Cordoba had the largest library. There Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars exchanged ideas. Islamic innovations and knowledge was transferred to Europe via Islamic Spain. Just as important were the Chinese and Hindu transfers from other parts of the Muslim world of Dar al Islam. Cordoba became an important transfer point of knowledge from the Muslim world to Europe. Al-Idrisi's world map Muslims made many advancements in cartography. For example there is Al Idrisi's world map. This three-meter reproduction of the famous 12th-century map by the Andalusian cartographer, Al-Idrisi (1100-1166), was produced in Sicily and is regarded as the most elaborate and complete description of the world made in medieval times. It was used extensively by travelers for several centuries and contained detailed descriptions of the Christian north as well as the Islamic world, Africa and the Far East. |
Scientific Method and Optics Al-Haytham, born in Iraq in 965, experimented with light and vision, laying the foundation for modern optics and for the notion that science should be based on experiment as well as on philosophical arguments. Circulatory System
Ibn an-Nafee was an Arab physician who made several important contributions to the early knowledge of the pulmonary circulation. The discovery of the blood circulation system is one of the unique, unprecedented contributions of Ibn An-Nafees to medicine. He was also the first physician to describe the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. Ibn An-Nafees also described the tiny capillaries that allow a constant interchange between the blood and waste products in the tissues. |
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Hospitals
The first hospital was built in Baghdad in 805 CE. However, by 1400 CE, the city of Cordoba had more hospitals than any other city in the Muslim world. The typical hospital was divided into departments such as systemic diseases, surgery and orthopedics with larger hospitals having more diverse specialties.
The first hospital was built in Baghdad in 805 CE. However, by 1400 CE, the city of Cordoba had more hospitals than any other city in the Muslim world. The typical hospital was divided into departments such as systemic diseases, surgery and orthopedics with larger hospitals having more diverse specialties.
Paper Making
Through the Arab conquest of North Africa and Southern Spain, papermaking first reached the Muslim parts of Spain in the 12th century. A paper mill is recorded at Fez (Fes) in Morocco in 1100, and the first paper mill on the Spanish mainland is recorded at Xàtiva, near Valencia, which was still under Muslim rule, in 1151. Paper allowed Muslim knowledge both innovations and transfers to be disseminated through out Afro Eurasia. |