Abbasid Decline and the Abbasid Decline and the Spread of Islam Through Spread of Islam Through

AsiaAsia

Abbasid ExcessesAbbasid Excesses

Al-Mahdi – 3Al-Mahdi – 3rdrd Abbasid caliph Abbasid caliph – during his reign it was – during his reign it was already evident that courtly already evident that courtly excesses and political excesses and political divisions would plague the divisions would plague the dynastydynasty

Al-Mahdi tried to reconcile Al-Mahdi tried to reconcile with moderate Shi’a but this with moderate Shi’a but this effort failed – Shi’a revolts effort failed – Shi’a revolts and intrigue followedand intrigue followed

Al-Mahdi opulence, Al-Mahdi opulence, dependent wives, dependent wives, concubines and courtiers concubines and courtiers drained the imperial drained the imperial treasury.treasury.

HARUN AL-RASHID came to the HARUN AL-RASHID came to the Abbasid throne after al-Mahdi’s Abbasid throne after al-Mahdi’s son and successor was son and successor was poisoned.poisoned.

Harun’s lavish court was on Harun’s lavish court was on display in the early 800s, when display in the early 800s, when the Holy Roman Emperor the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne sent emissaries Charlemagne sent emissaries to the Abbasid court.to the Abbasid court.

Harun’s reign also saw the rise Harun’s reign also saw the rise of the power of advisors. Later of the power of advisors. Later caliphs would have to struggle caliphs would have to struggle for power within their own for power within their own court among different factions court among different factions led by such advisors.led by such advisors.

Harun’s death was marked by Harun’s death was marked by questions of succession and questions of succession and civil war.civil war.

The Thousand and The Thousand and One NightsOne Nights

ScheherazadeScheherazade

The civil wars after the death of Harun al-Rashid The civil wars after the death of Harun al-Rashid caused greater imperial breakdowncaused greater imperial breakdown New caliphs built new imperial palaces and mosquesNew caliphs built new imperial palaces and mosques The imperial bureaucracy needed more and more state The imperial bureaucracy needed more and more state

officialsofficials The cost of the court led to massive taxes – many of which The cost of the court led to massive taxes – many of which

were imposed on peasants in the lands under firm Abbasid were imposed on peasants in the lands under firm Abbasid controlcontrol

The growing armies also added to the tax burdenThe growing armies also added to the tax burden Infrastructure – including irrigation systems – failed – Infrastructure – including irrigation systems – failed –

leading many peasants to leave Abbasid control, join leading many peasants to leave Abbasid control, join bandit gangs, or to move to the cities as homeless.bandit gangs, or to move to the cities as homeless.

Dissident Shi’a often encouraged peasant revolts against Dissident Shi’a often encouraged peasant revolts against the Abbasidthe Abbasid

The failure of smooth successions led The failure of smooth successions led not only to civil wars but to the not only to civil wars but to the growth of personal armies – teams of growth of personal armies – teams of “bodyguards” were often in the “bodyguards” were often in the thousandsthousands

Slave ArmiesSlave Armies MercenariesMercenaries

Women and Slavery in the Abbasid EmpireWomen and Slavery in the Abbasid Empire

““The harem and the veil” – growing confinement of women The harem and the veil” – growing confinement of women to the home in the Abbasid dynasty. Slave women were to the home in the Abbasid dynasty. Slave women were allowed to leave the home and did not have to wear the allowed to leave the home and did not have to wear the veils and robes forced on free women.veils and robes forced on free women.

Concubines – often slaves – they could earn their freedom if Concubines – often slaves – they could earn their freedom if their sons were healthy and strongtheir sons were healthy and strong

Eunuchs – (as in China) eunuchs often were behind palace Eunuchs – (as in China) eunuchs often were behind palace plots and intrigueplots and intrigue

Thousands of slaves were obtained from the regions Thousands of slaves were obtained from the regions surrounding the empire – the Balkans, Africa, central Asia, surrounding the empire – the Balkans, Africa, central Asia, etc.etc.

Intelligent slaves of both sexes were prized – with many of Intelligent slaves of both sexes were prized – with many of the dynasties best educated men and women were slaves. the dynasties best educated men and women were slaves. Caliphs and other court officials often used their slaves as Caliphs and other court officials often used their slaves as trusted advisors and personal soldiers.trusted advisors and personal soldiers.

Nomadic InvadersNomadic Invaders

As with all empires of the time, border regions were often As with all empires of the time, border regions were often prone to attack by invaders and a loss of direct control by prone to attack by invaders and a loss of direct control by the central government.the central government.

945 C.E. Buyids – a Persian dynasty that took control of 945 C.E. Buyids – a Persian dynasty that took control of Baghdad and made the caliphs their puppets – the Buyids Baghdad and made the caliphs their puppets – the Buyids tried to increase the influence of the Shi’a/tried to increase the influence of the Shi’a/

Sultan – “victorious” in Arabic – title taken by the BuyidsSultan – “victorious” in Arabic – title taken by the Buyids Seljuk Turks – 1055 C.E. the central Asian Seljuk Turks Seljuk Turks – 1055 C.E. the central Asian Seljuk Turks

entered the Abbasid Empire through Persia. The Turks entered the Abbasid Empire through Persia. The Turks ruled the empire “in the name of the caliphs.” As Sunnis, ruled the empire “in the name of the caliphs.” As Sunnis, the Turks moved against the Shi’a and then against the the Turks moved against the Shi’a and then against the Byzantines.Byzantines.

The Turks began to move into Asia Minor – Anatolia.The Turks began to move into Asia Minor – Anatolia.

CrusadesCrusades

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Persian LiteraturePersian Literature

RubaiyatRubaiyat Omar Omar Khayyam – Persian Khayyam – Persian poetrypoetry

Shah-NamaShah-Nama “Book “Book of Kings” – Persian of Kings” – Persian historical conquestshistorical conquests

The calligraphy The calligraphy made the actual made the actual texts examples of texts examples of Islamic art.Islamic art.

SciencesSciences

Occupying a central place in Asian trade, the Abbasids Occupying a central place in Asian trade, the Abbasids gained knowledge from the Greeks and Indians.gained knowledge from the Greeks and Indians.

In cultural centers such as Baghdad, the Muslims In cultural centers such as Baghdad, the Muslims made great scientific breakthroughs – as well as made great scientific breakthroughs – as well as refining and improving the work of the Greeks and refining and improving the work of the Greeks and IndiansIndians Trigonometry – sine, cosine, and tangentTrigonometry – sine, cosine, and tangent Objective experimentObjective experiment Classification of animal, vegetable and mineralClassification of animal, vegetable and mineral Astronomical tables and maps of the stars (trade)Astronomical tables and maps of the stars (trade) Cairo hospitalsCairo hospitals Schools and examinations for doctors and pharmacistsSchools and examinations for doctors and pharmacists Taught papermaking, silk weaving and ceramic firing from Taught papermaking, silk weaving and ceramic firing from

China to EuropeChina to Europe

Complex Religious TrendsComplex Religious Trends

Ulama – orthodox Ulama – orthodox religious scholars – religious scholars – their conservative their conservative stand on Islam was a stand on Islam was a counterbalance to a counterbalance to a growing Islamic growing Islamic mysticismmysticism

Al-Ghazali – tried to Al-Ghazali – tried to blend Greek and blend Greek and Islamic traditions – but Islamic traditions – but was rejected by the was rejected by the UlamaUlama

Sufi – Islamic Sufi – Islamic mysticismmysticism

MongolsMongols

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Islamic Movement EastIslamic Movement East

Hinduism and Islam – Muslim warriors, merchants, Hinduism and Islam – Muslim warriors, merchants, etc. moved into South Asia.etc. moved into South Asia.

Muslim inroads in India led to a unique relationship Muslim inroads in India led to a unique relationship between Islam and Hinduism – as Hindus were between Islam and Hinduism – as Hindus were viewed as “people of the book.”viewed as “people of the book.”

Islam was egalitarian while Hinduism was based Islam was egalitarian while Hinduism was based upon the caste system.upon the caste system.

Hinduism was adaptive while Islam was religiously Hinduism was adaptive while Islam was religiously rigid.rigid.

Conversion to Islam was relatively limited – mainly Conversion to Islam was relatively limited – mainly in trading centers and among people of lower in trading centers and among people of lower castes.castes.

Muhammad ibn Qasim – Muhammad ibn Qasim – was 17 when he led 10,000 was 17 when he led 10,000 Muslim warriors into Muslim warriors into Pakistan in 711 C.E. to Pakistan in 711 C.E. to avenge attacks on Arab avenge attacks on Arab shipping by the king of shipping by the king of Sindh – this began an Sindh – this began an eventual conquest of Indiaeventual conquest of India

Muslim rulers controlled a Muslim rulers controlled a vast population of Hindus vast population of Hindus and Buddhists.and Buddhists.

Muslims also began to Muslims also began to adopt Indian dress and adopt Indian dress and customs.customs.

The Second Wave of Muslim Invasions in IndiaThe Second Wave of Muslim Invasions in India

MAHMUD OF GHAZNI – 3MAHMUD OF GHAZNI – 3rdrd ruler ruler of a Turkish slave dynasty in of a Turkish slave dynasty in Afghanistan – he led a series of Afghanistan – he led a series of raids that led to the Muslim raids that led to the Muslim domination of northern Indiadomination of northern India

Muhammad of Ghur – in the late Muhammad of Ghur – in the late 1212thth century – he expanded upon century – he expanded upon the gains of Mahmud of Ghazni the gains of Mahmud of Ghazni into the Gangetic plain.into the Gangetic plain.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak – seized Qutb-ud-din Aibak – seized power after the assassination of power after the assassination of Muhammad of GhurMuhammad of Ghur

““Sultans of Delhi” – the Muslims Sultans of Delhi” – the Muslims built their capital at Delhi in the built their capital at Delhi in the center of northern India. Muslim center of northern India. Muslim dynasties fought each other, the dynasties fought each other, the Mongols, the Turks, and the Mongols, the Turks, and the Hindu princes for control of Hindu princes for control of India.India.

Hindu Revivals in the Face of IslamHindu Revivals in the Face of Islam

BHAKTIC – mystical BHAKTIC – mystical devotional cults to the devotional cults to the gods – developed as to gods – developed as to counter the appeal of Islam counter the appeal of Islam to the lower castes.to the lower castes.

Mira Bai – female writer Mira Bai – female writer who wrote religious poetry who wrote religious poetry and songs as part of the and songs as part of the bhaktic cults.bhaktic cults.

Kabir – a Muslim mystic Kabir – a Muslim mystic and weaver who tried to and weaver who tried to play down the religious play down the religious differences and build differences and build common ground.common ground.

Muslim Sailors and Traders Muslim Sailors and Traders

Muslim sailors and traders Muslim sailors and traders took their religion east into took their religion east into IndonesiaIndonesia

Shrivijaya – the 13Shrivijaya – the 13thth century collapse of this century collapse of this empire along the Strait of empire along the Strait of Malacca led to opening for Malacca led to opening for Islam in the port cities of Islam in the port cities of the Buddhist Shrivijaya.the Buddhist Shrivijaya.

Malacca and Demak – Malacca and Demak – trading center that became trading center that became an Islamic centeran Islamic center

Conversion linked to Conversion linked to business and trading business and trading centerscenters