Middle East History Exam 1 Study Guide PDF

Country journal question: Since there are no limits in this hypothetical, something that I would want to experience in Saudia Arabia would definitely be the Hajj, I think it would be fascinating to experience a place that is considered to be the holiest by so many people. I would also like to go to...

Country journal question: Since there are no limits in this hypothetical, something that I would want to experience in Saudia Arabia would definitely be the Hajj, I think it would be fascinating to experience a place that is considered to be the holiest by so many people. I would also like to go to the capital, Riyadh. I am a huge fan of nature so I would want to take a trip to the Edge of the World outside of Riyadh. I would also like to go to Al Balad, Jeddah, the architecture looks stunning, and as a fan of fragrance, I would like to track down some oud. Quran (including structure & content – Surah, Aya, Meccan, Medinan)- ○ 114 Suras(chapters)- 80 Meccan, 22 Medinan, 12 either or Not in chronological order, longer suras are typically first Early Mecan: relatively poetic, brief, personal and existential. Later Meccan: emphasis on prophetic history Medinan: prose, lengthy, legal injunctions ○ 6,236 Ayas(verses) Mecca- Commercial, religious center. Located along caravan routes. Sophisticated, prosperous, urban society Byzantine Empire- Eastern Roman Empire. Greek Orthodox and other Christian sects. Prophet Muhammad (including impact of life, death)- Born 570. Revelations began in 610. Died 632 ○ Early phase of revelation 610-613. Discussion with close friends/family. Early themes include: nature of God, judgement, worship, social responsibility, Muhammad’s role as prophet. ○ 613-622(Mecca) public preaching- converts and opposition. Viewed as threat to political/economic interests. Struggles reflected in revelation. ○ Medinan period 622-632- First Islamic community. Revelations relate to running state, legislation, relations with non-mulsims. Mecca surrenders in 630. Most of Arabia under control of prophet. 622/Emigration/Hijra- Emigration to Medina(Yathrib) Start of Islamic lunar calendar. Pillars of Islam- Testimony(shahada), Prayer(salat), Fasting(sawm Ramadan), Alms(zakat), Pilgrimage(hajj) Islamic Law/Sharia (including essentials, schools of law, sources of law)- ○ Sharia: “way to a wastering path or a path apparently to seek felicity and salvation.” Path to religion. Divine revelation- through Quran and hadith ○ Essential concerns of Sharia: faith in God, worship of God, observance of 5 pillars ○ Also concerned with justice ○ Five essentials: protection of life, religion, property, intellect, and family ○ Sources: Quran, Hadith, Qiyas(analogy), Ijma(consensus) ○ Schools of law (Madhhab/madhahib): Sunni- Hanafi(Abu Hanifa, Iraq), Maliki(Malik Ibn Anas, Medina), Shafii(Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafii, Egypt), Hanbali(Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Baghdad) Shii school(twelver)- Jafari(Jafar al- Sadiq, Medina) Ibn Battuta- 1304- 1368/9 Tangier, Morocco. Legal scholar. Travel narrative: Rihla.  ○ Travelled along trade routes ○ Rihla describes Mongol successor states, plague, early Ottoman state. Caliphate (including evolution)- selection of successor after prophet’s death in 632. Two views: family member of prophet, and Shura(consultation) among elders. Lost political power over time(Abassid Caliphate turns into figure heads) Rightly Guided/Rashidun Caliphate (Abu Bakr 632- 634, Umar 634-644, Uthman 644-645, Ali 656-661). Sunni/Shia (reasons for split, approaches to political legitimacy)- Succession after prophet ○ Supporters of Ali= Shia Ali(party of Ali)- Ali and lineage are the rightful caliphs Umayyad Caliphate 661-750 (characteristics, distinctions with Abbasids)- Moved capital to Damascus. Privileged Arabs, “Arab Kingdom”. Expansion to Spain, Central Asia. Abbasid Caliphate (vs. Empire) ○ Empire- 750-945. Cosmopolitan society. Conversion and Arabization- absorption of neighboring cultures. Development of absolutist state. From consultation(shura) to dynastic succession. Increasing power and remoteness of caliphs. Monumental buildings Bayt al-Hikma/House of Wisdom Ended in 945 with capture of Baghdad by the Buyids(Buyid state: 932-1062) ○ Decline as a result of fragmentation. Caliphs lost political power; remained as figureheads. ○ Caliphate continues until 1258. 1258/Fall of Baghdad- end of Caliphate. Baghdad conquered by Hulegu Khan(grandson of Ghengis) ○ Al-Andalus- 711: Muslim conquest of Iberian Penninsula. ○ Cordoba- capital of Al-Andalus. Emirate of Cordoba(756-929). Caliphate of Cordoba(929-1031). Center of learning and scholarship(Ibn Rushd, Maimonides, etc…). Huge impact on language. ○ Convivencia- all three Abrahamic religions coexisting. Ibn Rushd (Averroes)- 1126-1198. Traditional legal education, served as judge(qadi). Known as “the commentator”(commentaries of Aristotle). Argued for harmony of philosophy and religion. Reponse to al-Ghazali: Incoherence of the Incoherence Maimonides- 1135-1204. Exile in Fez 1148-58, settled in Egypt 1168. Died Egypt 1204. Jewish philosopher Reconquista- Started in 8th century. Marriage of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon. 1481: launch of Inquisition. ○ 1492/Fall of Granada- January: Fall of Granada- March: Jews expelled from Spain. Columbus sets sail in August ○ 1499- Remaining Muslims were expelled Medieval Islamid World(945-1500) ○ Buyid State(932-1062)- Primarily Iraq and Iran.  ○ Empire of Great Saljuks ○ Fatimid Caliphate(870-1171)- Shii political success from 970-1171 ○ Mamluk Sultanate(1250-1517) ○ Marinid Empire(1244-1465)- Morocco and other parts of North Africa(Algeria and Tunisia). Ibn Sina (Avicenna)- 980-1037. Philosopher, scientist, physician. Influential in Europe(e.g. The Book of Healing; The Canon of Medicine). Served Buyids. Primary source: The Ideal Muslim Intellectual Shajar al-Durr- d. 1257. Coined currency. First Mamluk Sultan. Ruler of Egypt. Sufism/Islamic Mysticism (early vs. later; poetry & poets)- Goal is knowledge of God. Path to God through love, don’t want to wait to meet God. ○ Layla and Majnun ○ Rabia al-Adawiyya- d. 801. Distinguished female sufi and saint. Followed ascetic practices, including weeping. Primary source on poetry ○ Early Sufism- early islam until around 1100. Ascetism- denial of material pleasure; distraction from experiencing divine. Use of allegory Sufi mystics were often treated with suspicion ○ Later sufism- After 1100. Shift from ascetic to ecstatic- God is omniscient, accessible Reconciliation of Sufism and Sunni Orthodoxy. Becomes more respected Al- Ghazali- incoherence of the philosopher Sufism becomes more popular and contributes to spread of Islam Development of Sufi orders:Tariqa( pl. Turuq), e.g. Mehlevi order Mawlana jalal al-Din Balkhi, known as Rumi d. 1273. Inspired Mehlevi order ○ Modern Sufism- Sufi networks were important for trade, resistance. Lost popularity in late 19th. Trade/Indian Ocean World- Ocean as unit of historical study, area of interconnection. ○ Trade regulated by monsoon winds. ○ Swahili coast: city states; linked through language, culture and religion ○ Bigger, richer than Silk Road; easier to transport bulk goods and not just luxury items ○ Spread ideas as well as tech. ○ Europe not involved Mongols- Started expanding in 1206 under Genghis. Incorporated conquered people. Unification of Afro-Eurasia. Stopped by Mamluks in 1260 ○ Destruciton of Islamic Caliphate ○ Opened Afro-Eurasia. Greater connectivity, Silk Road flourished, flow of goods, people, tech, culture, and disease Black Death/Plague (including consequences)- Spread accross Afro-Eurasian trade networks. ○ Ibn Battutua: Plague in Damascus  ○ Consequences: disruption and decline of existing world systems, population loss, political crises, social breakdown, and new political formations. New Islamic Empires/Gunpowder Empires (Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals)- emerged as dominant in the 16th century. Non-Arabic speaking ○ Safavid Empire- 1500-1722- Iraq, Iran, etc… Founder of dynasty= Shah Ismail. Adopted Twelver Shiism. Less centralized than Ottoman state. Army of Turkic speaking tribes. Bureucrats were Persian speaking Urban population Political unifaction of modern day Iran. Iran transformed into predominantly Shii country. ○ Mughals- 1526-1857. Founder= Babur(claimed Mongol and Turkish lineage). Expanded to most of India. Tolerant of other religions. Last emperor deposed by British. Ibn Khaldun- Describes dynastic cycles in primary source Medina- formerly called Yathrib; The Medianian Period is where the first Islamic community/state was established by Prophet Muhammed. He also had revelations relate to running state,legislation, and relations with non-Muslims. Sassanid Empire