The Arab Empire of the Umayyads (661-750)
description
Transcript of The Arab Empire of the Umayyads (661-750)
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)
Chaos After Muhamma
d Dies
Never appointed a
successor
Ali (son-in-law) passed over b/c he
was too young
Abu Bakr (a friend)
chosen as leader (632-
634)
Succession (who would lead) would be constant
problem
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
Empires around
Arabs weak
Arabs in other
empires helped
Warriors promised
riches from conquest
So, motivated by riches, not jihad
The Surrounding Empires
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
Byzantine Empire Also Weak
Arabs helped by people living in
Byzantine Empire:
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
1st caliph = Muhammad
2nd caliph = Abu Bakr
3rd caliph = Uthman
4th caliph = ???
Uthman was Umayyad (rival of Muhammad) thus
not very popular
Uthman murdered in 656, sparking
clan violence/civil
war
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
Umayyad name
Mu’Awiya as next caliph
Supporters angry at Ali and turn on
him
Ali assassinated and his son
Hasan forced to give up claim to
caliphate
Umayyad now in full
control of the Arab empire
ShiaSunni Vs.
The Sunni-Shia (Shi’ite) SplitSunni-
Supporters of
Umayyad
- Majority of
Muslims
Shia-
Supporters of Ali-
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
Build biggest empire since Rome, and control Spain to central Asia
Temporarily solving issue of succession, Umayyad expand Arab empire
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 IntermarriageDon’t want converts, less money in taxes coming in
Kept warriors separated from populations so wouldn’t intermarry
Mawali = converts to Islam, still had to pay jizya (tax on
non believers)
Too difficult to stop intermarriage
Little incentive to convert, so most didn’t
So Umayyad weren’t focused on converting
people to Islam
Dhimmis
Non-Muslims living in Arab
empire
Called “People of the Book”
(Bible)
Had to pay Jizya (tax on non-
believers)
Mostly left alone by Umayyad
leaders
B/c left alone, easier to accept
Arab ruleThe non-Muslims
Umayyad Women
Women had more status in Umayyad
empire than in areas it conquered
Hadiths – traditions set by Muhammad
(such as treating women well
Muhammad had preached treating women well
Discontent of Umayyad Grows
Umayyad leaders living
lavishly
Stop fighting wars, build
marble palaces
Muslims getting very
upset
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
Abbasid led by Abu al-Abbas, great-grandson of al Abbas
Unite w/ Shia and Mawali (converts never felt accepted – still paying
jizya)
Rebels fighting the Umayyad unite under the Abbasid banner
End of Umayyad Battle on the River Zab (750)
Abbasid defeat Umayyad, get
Damascus, control Arab empire