PostClassical Period 600 1450 Fall of Classic Civilizations

Post-Classical Period 600 -1450

Fall of Classic Civilizations Rise Of Major Belief Systems

Classical Period ends with decline of urban areas. Why? • • Devastating plagues Invasions Decline of Ag. Production Political & economic decentralization

Urban Revival during Post. Classical Age. Why? • End of invasions • Availability of safe/reliable transport • Rise of commerce and warmer temps. between 800 -1300 • Increased ag. production = rising pop. • Great availability of labor

Spread of Religions • Buddhism • Christianity • Islam

Why successfully spread? • Emphasized spiritual life • Stressed importance of divine powers • Emphasized internal devotion • Offers hope through afterlife • Helped those in need (poor, hungry, oppressed)

The Spread of Islam

Origins of Islam • Why was the Arabian Peninsula both a likely and unlikely place to start a religion? ? ?

Likely • Strategic location Unlikely • Geography – desert • People – Located bwn 3 – Bedouins continents & –Tribal major waterways –No unity

Changes during Late Classical Period • Towns and Cities emerge * *

• Prominent role of Arab Merchants

• Growth of Arabic language

• Materialistic culture emerges Literacy and Education increases

• Fall of Rome

Islam as a “Unifier” • Distinctly Arabic • Ended feuding tribes • Source of Authority • Equality and a moral code • Trade and profit making

Islamic Expansion Why conquest? *Unity gave confidence *Valuable lands/trade/money *Drought in Arabia *Seek Converts First Commanded by Muhammad Followed by the first Caliphs

Why was it successful? • Quick, Agile Army • Weak Surrounding Empires • Taxing policies insured loyalty and revenue

Umayyad Dynasty 661 -750 • Capital moved to Damascus • Favoritism toward Arabs • Second wave of conquest/expansion: W. India to Spain • Caliph = religious leader; family = advisors

Abbasids Dynasty 750 -945 • Capital = Baghdad • Tolerance towards non-Arabs • Consolidated Empire • Caliph = Absolute ruler; Vizier headed complex bureaucracy • Global Network of Trade; Baghdad = major trade city • Baghdad = center of Islamic Golden Age

Problems within the Empire 1. Issues of Succession *After the death of Muhammad *Rightful heir?

Division Emerges Sunnis Shi’is (Shiite) Forward Fundamentalists Majority Minority Anyone can Claim to be direct assume role of descendants to caliph Muhammad-Only they can be caliph

2. Empire grew too big • Rebellious governors • Ruling a diverse people • End of Arabian dominance

RESULTS: • By 1000 Abbasids were crumbling • Other cultural influences takeover Arabs • Persians, Turks, Mongols • Arabian Political Islamic Cultural Dynamism Dominance

Complete the following Analogy What the birth and growth of Islam (Idea) did for the Arabs (people)… ___________ (Idea) did for the_________(people) because they both ____________________________________