Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following factors contributed to the decline of the Abbasid dynasty?
Which of the following factors contributed to the decline of the Abbasid dynasty?
The Buyids were able to maintain control of the Abbasid empire for over two centuries.
The Buyids were able to maintain control of the Abbasid empire for over two centuries.
False
What title was used by the leaders of the Buyids?
What title was used by the leaders of the Buyids?
Sultan
The mercenary forces often played a major role in urban _______ riots.
The mercenary forces often played a major role in urban _______ riots.
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Which dynasty invaded the Abbasid heartlands in 945?
Which dynasty invaded the Abbasid heartlands in 945?
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The Seljuks eliminated Shi'a influences established by the Buyids.
The Seljuks eliminated Shi'a influences established by the Buyids.
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What was one consequence of the Seljuk victories against rival dynasties?
What was one consequence of the Seljuk victories against rival dynasties?
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Dissident _______ groups often instigated peasant uprisings against the Abbasid regime.
Dissident _______ groups often instigated peasant uprisings against the Abbasid regime.
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Study Notes
Decline of the Abbasid Dynasty
- The Abbasid dynasty faced internal turmoil by the 11th and 12th centuries, weakening its power and control.
- Struggles for succession and rivalry among mercenary armies, primarily composed of slaves, exacerbated conflicts.
- Mercenary armies assassinated multiple caliphs, becoming significant power players behind the Abbasid throne.
Impact of Mercenary Armies
- Mercenaries were key in igniting urban food riots due to sharp price increases on staples.
- Civil unrest drained the treasury and alienated urban populations, weakening the stability of the empire.
- The Abbasid leadership's attempts to escape Baghdad’s turmoil by moving capitals led to further financial strain.
Economic Strain and Agricultural Decline
- The construction of new palatial and public works raised costs, further taxing the already burdened peasantry.
- Rampant taxation and local official pillaging caused widespread destruction and abandonment of villages.
- Important irrigation systems in the Tigris-Euphrates basin deteriorated, leading to agricultural collapse.
Peasant Uprisings and Religious Dissent
- Many peasants fled to wilderness areas, becoming bandit gangs or vagabonds due to oppressive tax collection.
- Dissident Shi’a sects often instigated uprisings against the Sunni Abbasid regime, seeking to correct abuses.
Territorial Losses and Emergence of Regional Powers
- While the Abbasid leadership was preoccupied, territories like Egypt and Syria seceded from control.
- Independent kingdoms began to rise, challenging the Abbasid's authority and legitimacy within the Islamic world.
- The Buyids of Persia invaded Baghdad in 945, effectively reducing the caliphs to figureheads under their control.
Rise of the Buyids and Seljuk Turks
- The Buyids adopted the title of sultan, establishing a new form of power structure over the Abbasid caliphate.
- The Buyid dominance lasted until 1055 when they were overthrown by the Seljuk Turks, who were nomadic invaders from Central Asia.
- The Seljuks reinstated military control over remnants of the Abbasid empire but focused on purging Shi’a influences from the administration.
Military and Political Developments Under the Seljuks
- The Seljuks achieved significant military victories against rival Shi’a dynasties and weakened the Byzantine Empire.
- Conquests opened Asia Minor for settlement by other Turkic groups, laying the groundwork for the future Ottoman Empire.
- The growing power of the Seljuks coincided with the challenge posed by Christian crusaders seeking to capture key territories.
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