Arabic Empires After Muhammad 632 After Muhammad Abu

Arabic Empires

After Muhammad (632) • After Muhammad, Abu Bakr is named Muhammad’s successor • Received title of Caliph: Religious and political leader of an Islamic empire • Dominion of rule known as a caliphate

Rashidun Caliphate (632 -661 C. E. ) • Islam spreads under Bakr’s leadership • Suppression of tribal uprisings • Defensive warfare known as jihad

Expansion and Decline of the Empire • Powerful military generals; belief in paradise strengthened dedication • Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law) last of the Rashidan Caliphs • Assassinated by Persian general Mu’awiya

Umayyad Dynasty (661 -750) • Caliphate was now Persian • “I never use my sword when my whip will do, nor my whip when my tongue will do” • Expanded empire to its largest size Great Mosque of Damascus • Settlements in Spain and Egypt • Capital in Damascus

Split in the Faith • Internal struggles weaken the empire’s stability • Uprising led by Hussein (son of Ali) • Revolt = failure; most thought Umayyad caliphs were legitimate • Some thought they should be related to Ali • Sunni: Believed all caliphs were legitimate • Shia: Believed only relatives of Muhammad were legitimate caliphs

Abbasid Caliphate (750 -754 C. E. ) • Rebellion in Persia led by Abu al-Abbas • Mainly Shias and converts from other countries • Capital moved to Baghdad • All ethnicities of Muslims could hold civil and military positions

Abbasid Caliphate • Capital in Baghdad • Extremely wealthy through trade • All ethnicities of Muslims could hold civil and military positions • More complex government • Council headed by vizier, advisor of the caliph

Abbasid Caliphate • Harun al Rashid (786 -809 C. E. ) • Oversaw the Golden Age of Islam • Subject of the 1001 Arabian Nights • Baghdad now largest and most cultured city in the world

Decline of the Abbasid • Slow, not immediate • Fighting over succession • Financial corruption • Leaders no longer Arab • Seljuk Turks replace title of caliph with sultan • Serves as title for later Ottoman Empire