Summer 2020

HIS 102: Introduction to World Civilization

Department of History and Philosophy
North South University
LECTURE 12:
EARLY ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION AND ARAB
EMPIRES
DR. KAZI MARUFUL ISLAM
kazi.islam07@northsouth.edu
22 August 2020
TALKING POINTS
§ Timeline of Muslim EMpires
§ Geography and Weather in Arab
§ Socio-economic background of Pre-islam Arab

§ Birth of Hazrat Muhammad (PBH)

§ Caliphs and Early Empire Building

§ Umayyada and Abbasids

§ Society and Economy in Arab Empires
HUMAN CIVILIZATIONS AT A GLANCE
EXPANSION OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN BRIEF
TIMELINE OF MUSLIM EMPIRES
EARLY ISLAM AND ARAB EMPIRE: 550–900 CE
q Geography
qEconomy
qPolitical and Social Structures
qMuhammad (PBH)
qCaliphate
qUmayyads
qAbbasids
qFall of Arab Empire
GEOGRAPHY
§ The Arabian Peninsula was a desert land that lacked
water sources.
§ The people who lived in the peninsula were nomads,
people who moved constantly to find water and food for
their animals because of the hostile surroundings.
§ As a result of the harsh surroundings, Arabs organized
themselves into tribes to help one another.
§ Each tribe was ruled by a sheikh, who was chosen from
one of the leading families by a council of elders. The
tribes were independent, but still connected to one
another.
GEOGRAPHY
§ The Arabian Peninsula is a
crossroads of three continents.
Africa, Europe and Asia.
§ Only a tiny strip of fertile land in
the south and Oman can support
agriculture.
§ The rest of the land is desert
inhabited by nomadic Arab
herders.
§ Towns were located near the
coast or near oasis.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
§ The Arabs lived as farmers and sheepherders on the oases
and rain-fed areas of the Arabian Peninsula.
§ After the camel was domesticated (around 100 BCE) the Arabs
were able to populate more of the desert.
§ They developed and expanded caravan trades during this
time period. They moved goods from the Indian Ocean to the
Mediterranean Ocean, where the Silk Road ended.
§ Most Arabs were polytheistic, although they traced their
ancestors to Abraham and his son Ishmael, who they believed
built Makkah (Mecca), a house of worship whose cornerstone
was a sacred stone called the Black Stone.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
• The Arabs recognized a supreme god named Allah, but
also believed in tribal gods.
• The Arabian Peninsula took on new importance when
political disorder in Mesopotamia and Egypt disrupted
trade and travel.
• The Arabian trade route through Makkah to Yemen was a
safer route, and the Arabians prospered.
THE BIRTH OF HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (PBH)
§ Muhammad (PBH) was born to a merchant family in Makkah in 570 CE. His
parents died when he was 5 years old.
§ When he grew up he became a caravan manager and married Khadija, a rich
widow.
§ Muhammad (PBH) was troubled by the gap between the greedy and rich
trading elites in the city and the honesty and generosity of most Makkans.
§ Like Buddha, he went into the mountains to meditate on the good and bad in
people.
§ During his meditations, Muslims believe Muhammad received revelations from
God. According to Islamic teachings, the angel Gabriel visited Muhammad
§ Muhammad (PBH) believed God had revealed himself to Moses and Jesus,
validating Jewish and Christian traditions
§ Muhammad (PBH) believed he was receiving Allah’s final revelations
THE BIRTH OF HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (PBH)
§ After receiving the revelations from the Angel, Muhammad
returned home and reflected on his experience.
§ His wife became the first convert to Islam, after encouraging
Muhammad to follow Gabriel’s message.
§ Muhammad set out to convince the people of Makkah of the truth
of the revelations.
§ Makkans did not accept his teachings or his belief that he was a
prophet; after three years he had only 30 followers
§ He left Makkah and moved north to Madina (Medina). The journey
of Muhammad and his followers to Medina is known as the Hijrah.
The journey happened in 622 CE, which became year 1 of the
official calendar of Islam
§ Muhammad won support from followers in Medina and from Arabs
in the desert, especially the Bedouins.
TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD (PBH)
§ Muslims saw NO separation between political and religious authority.

§ Submission to the will of god meant submission to the prophet Muhammad

§ Muhammad became both a religious and political leader; he was a good military
leader
§ In 630 CE, Muhammad returned to Makkah with a force of 10,000 men. The city
surrendered and most of the city dwellers converted to Islam
§ After a visit to Kabba (the house of worship), Muhammad declared it a sacred shrine
of Islam
§ Muhammad died two years after conquering Makkah
§ All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their
lifetimes. This pilgrimage is called the Hajj.
TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD (PBH)
§ Islam is monotheistic
§ Allah is all-powerful
§ Islam emphasizes salvation and hope
§ for an afterlife (those who wish for life after death must submit
themselves to the will of Allah
§ Muhammad is considered a prophet, similar to Moses; a man like other
men
§ They do not believe that Jesus was divine (from god), instead they see
him as a prophet
§ Islam stresses the need to obey the will of Allah
§ Muslims must practice acts of worship known as the Five Pillars of Islam
§ Islam is not just a religion, it is a way of life
ARAB EMPIRE
§ Muhammad left no male successor, so his followers chose
Muhammad’s father-in-law, Abu Bakr, to be their leader. He was
named a caliph, or a successor to Muhammad in 632 CE.
§ Under Bakr’s leadership, the Islamic movement grew rapidly.
§ The Muslims believed defensive warfare known as jihad could
be used to expand Islam with the help of the military.
§ By 636 CE, the Muslim army defeated the Byzantine army; four
years later they took the Byzantine province of Syria.
§ By 642 CE, Egypt and most of Northern Africa was controlled by
the Arab empire.
§ The Arabs defeated the entire Persian army by 650 CE.
CHRONOLOGY EARLY CALIPHS
ARAB EMPIRE
 ARAB RULE AND UMAYYADS
§ The Arab empire was ruled by caliphs, who were
considered the successors to Muhammad. After Abu
Bakr’s death, there were no clear successors, and the
first two caliph’s were assassinated. In 656 CE, Ali,
Muhammad’s son-in-law was chosen to be caliph, but
he was assassinated in 661 CE.
§ The Arabs ruled their empire like the Romans. They
allowed some territories to have local rule, and were
tolerant of other religions. If a territory or the people
in it chose not to convert, they were required to by
loyal to Muslim rule and pay taxes.
§ In 661, the general Mu’awiyah became caliph. He
made the caliph hereditary and established the
Umayyad dynasty. He moved the capital of the
empire to Damascus, in Syria.
ARAB RULE AND UMAYYADS
§ The Umayyad’s armies conquered the Berbers of Northern
Africa and then crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and conquered
southern Spain around 710 CE. Cordoba became the Muslim
center of Spain.
§ In 732, Arab forces were defeated at the Battle of Tours in
France, which stopped the Arab expansion into Europe.
§ The Muslim army also tried to defeat the Byzantine empire in
Constantinople, but their fleet was destroyed. This stopped
Muslim expansion into eastern Europe.
ABBASIDS DYNASTY
§ In 750, Abu al-Abbas, a descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, overthrew the
Umayyad dynasty and set up the Abbasid Dynasty.

§ In 762, the Abbasids built a new capital in Baghdad, on the Tigris River (modern
day Iraq).

§ Persian influence was strong in Abbasid empire. Judges, Merchants and

government officials were heroes instead of warriors.

§ All Muslims (regardless of ethnic background) were allowed to hold civil and
military positions, and were allowed to intermarry with conquered peoples.

§ Gold age of Caliphate came under Harun al-Rashid, who was known for charity
and his support of artists and writers. It was a period of growth and prosperity
for Arab empire.
GOVERNMENT
§ Theocracy- government based on divine authority.
Islam’s theocracy began when Muhammad became a
religious and political leader.
§ The Islamic Empire based its rule and laws on the
teachings of the Quran. Muslims believe that questions
concerning politics, economics, and social life are
answered by following Islamic teachings, such as the Five
Pillars.
§ The Islamic code of laws is called shari`ah- it regulates
all aspects of life- both political and civil. ( politics,
business practices, government and moral conduct)
SOCIAL CLASSES
§ According to Islam, all people are equal in the eyes of
Allah, however, this is not the reality in the Arab Empire.
§ There was a rigid class structure.
§ Ruling family, senior officials, merchants
MORE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL CLASSES
§ Slaves were not considered equal, Muslims could not be
slaves, most slaves came from Africa or non-Islamic
population.
§ Male slaves served in the Army
§ Women slaves were used as domestic servants.
§ Islamic law made it clear that slaves should be treated
fairly and it was considered a good act to free them.
SOCIAL CLASS PYRAMID
Ruling
Families

Merchants

SLAVES
TIME LINE OF MUSLIM’S RULE
SUCCESSORS OF ARAB EMPIRE
§ The Seljuk Turks: strong army created by the Fatimid dynasty in
Egypt. They were from central Asia, successful under Abbasid
caliphate.
§ 1055 - Turks captured Baghdad, leader named himself Sultan.
§ 1071 – Sultan conquered Byzantine empire.
§ The Crusades:
§ Byzantine emperor asked for help with Seljuk Turks.
§ 1187 Saladin invaded Jerusalem.
§ Series of Holy Wars in which European
§ Christians tried to retake the Holy Land of Jerusalem (1099-1261)
§ Pope offered salvation to any Christian fighting in Crusades
ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN BRIEF
THANKS