Systems of Belief and Practices (1200-1450)

Systems of Belief and Practices (c. 1200-1450)

• Abbasid Caliphate: An Arab-led empire during Islam's Golden Age, known for innovation.
• Mamluks: Enslaved people who converted to Islam, eventually forming a powerful sultanate in Egypt.
• Islamic Scholars: Transferred mathematical knowledge from India to Europe and adopted paper-making from China.
• Sufis: Emphasized introspection, intertwining local faiths to spread Islam.
• Slavery: Islam permitted enslaving non-Muslims but prohibited enslaving fellow Muslims. Slaves were imported from various regions.
• Women: Islamic women had more freedoms than Jewish or Christian women, including the ability to buy freedom and own businesses. Muhammad's teachings elevated women's status, forbidding practices like female infanticide.

Rise of Islamic States (Over Time)

• Causes:

  • Trade: Islamic merchants along the Silk Roads expanded Islam's reach and fostered economic growth.
  • Military Conquest: Expansion into Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Sufism facilitated the spread of Islam.
  • Abbasid Caliphate's decline: Weakening Abbasid rule created opportunities for other empires to emerge.

• Effects:

  • Spread of Islam: Conversion to Islam in various regions.
  • Innovation: Cultural exchange and advancements during the Golden Age.

Intellectual Innovation in Dar al-Islam

• Medical Advances: Improved care in cities like Cairo, leading to greater population stability.
• House of Wisdom: A center for learning, attracting scholars worldwide.
• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Astronomer who significantly advanced trigonometry's understanding of planetary motion.
• Legal, Logical, Ethical, and Philosophical Advancements: Across various fields.
• 'Aisha al-Bahiyyah: Writer who contributed to the understanding of different Islamic perspectives.
• Papermaking: Introduced to Europe from China, a pivotal technology for knowledge dissemination.

Religions

• Islam: Founded by Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula. Emphasis on righteous actions (e.g., charity, prayer). Muhammad's mercantile background influenced trade within Dar al-Islam.
  • Spread through Military expansion and merchant activity.
  • Major Islamic states include the Abbasid Caliphate, Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, and Delhi Sultanate.
• Christianity: Founded by Jesus Christ. Roman Empire's adoption influenced its spread throughout Europe and Africa.
• Judaism: An ethnic religion originating in the Middle East, with a foundational monotheistic belief system.

Islamic Empires

• Abbasid Caliphate: Arab empire that reached the peak of its power during the Golden Age of Islam. Later declined, ushering in the rise of other empires, including those led by various Turkish groups.
• Seljuk Empire: A major Turkish empire, initially formed as a military force for the Abbasids.
• Mamluk Sultanate: A significant Islamic power in Egypt, succeeding earlier dynasties.
• Delhi Sultanate: Empire in South Asia.

Summary Points

• The Abbasid Caliphate, a dominant Arab Islamic empire, declined, and new, primarily Turkic, empires emerged.
• Trade, conquest, and religious movements like Sufism played key roles in spreading Islam.
• Intellectual advancements in Dar al-Islam impacted various fields, extending knowledge throughout the world.