Chapter 7 Notes

Class Notes

1. Mid-9th Century: The Abbasids began to lose control of their empire.
   • Problems
     • Distance: could not control areas that were far from the capital.
     • something about local roots being upturned and Merv
     • Shi'a dissenters… dissented.
     • Slave and peasant revolts.
   • Mongols eventually ended empire (1258?)
2. Status of women eroded completely under Abbasid rule.
3. Despite internal turmoils, Islam reached new cultural heights.
4. Caliph al' Mahdi: Third Abbasid caliph (775-785). Phenomenal failure.
   • Failed to reconcile Shi'a moderates to his dynasty. (leading to more angry Shi'a dissenters)
   • Failed to resolve the succession problem. (How do you become caliph? Who should rule next?)
5. Caliph Harun al-Rashid: Fourth Abbasid caliph (786 - 809), son of al' Mahdi. Most famous/useless of them all.
   • Renowned for wanton lifestyle and luxurious piddling. (recounted in 1001 nights)
   • Became dependent on Persian advisors
     • Created a trend that would eventually make caliphs redundant puppets.
6. Mamaluk: Turkic nomads whose armies became power centers.

Review Questions

Main Ideas

These questions are from Bielski's review book.

1. What factors led to the decline and collapse of the Abbasid caliphate?
2. What factors served to unite Muslims around continents and diverse cultures?
3. How did the status of women deteriorate during this era?
4. Describe intellectual contributions and achievements of Islamic civilization.
5. What factors contributed to Islam's spread to South and Southeast Asia?
6. How did contacts between Hindu society and Islam affect each civilization?
7. What was the impact of Turkish migrations on Islamic civilization?
8. What motivated the Christian crusades, and how did it affect the combatants?
9. What Muslim achievements and technologies influenced other civilizations?

Super In-Depth: Every Detail of Every Section

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The Islamic Heartlands in the Middle and Late Abbasid Eras

1. Intro
   • Who was al-Mahdi? In what ways did he contribute to the decline of Islamic civilization?
   • Who was Harun al-Rashid? Why is he famous?
2. Imperial Extravagance and Succession Disputes
   • How did Persians gain so much power in the Abbasidian court?
   • What was the consequence of the first civil war in 813-833?
3. Imperial Breakdwon and Agrarian Disorder
   • Why was the Abbasid empire rapidly losing money?
   • What were the consequences as a result of the deficit?
4. The Declining Position of Women in the Family and Society
   • What were the two symbols of the deterioration of women's position?
   • How were slaves and concubines treated in the Abbasid elite?
   • What were the differences between the positions of elite women and women of lower classes?
5. Nomadic Incursions and the Eclipse of Caliphal Power
   • What happened in 945 as the Islamic empire began to splinter?
   • What was the role of caliphs after 945?
   • In 1055, the new dynasty was broken by what group of people?
     • What religion were they?
6. The Impact of the Christian Crusades
   • What was the main objective of the Crusades?
   • Who was Saladin?
   • What was The Impact of the Christian Crusades?

An Age of Learning and Artistic refinements

1. Intro
   • What group of people benefits from an "Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement"?
   • What is notable about Islamic art?
2. The Full Flowering of Persian Literature
   • Arabic was originally the primary written language of Abbasidian court. What replaced it, and why?
   • Why does Persian literature matter. ._.
3. Achievements in the Sciences
   • Name four Muslim achievements in Math or Science. (also see DBQ)
4. Religious Trends and the New Push for Expansion
   • Who were the ulama?
   • Who were the Sufis? How did they differ from the ulama?
   • How was the general support for each the ulama and the Sufis?
5. New Waves of Nomadic Invasions and the End of the Caliphate
   • Who were the Mongols? What was their part in dismantling the Islamic empire?
   • Who were the Mamluks?
   • What eventually happened to Baghdad?

The Coming of Islam to South Asia

1. Intro
   • How did Hinduism and Buddhism differ?
   • (map) To which general areas did Islam spread to?
2. Political Divisions and the First Muslim Invasions
   • Who was Muhammad ibn Qasim?
   • What effect did the coming of Islam have on the conquered regions around Sind?
3. Indian Influences on Islamic Civilization
   • Muslims learned stuff from Indians. whoo.
4. From Booty to Empire: The Second Wave of Muslim Invasions
   • This is the weirdest subheading ever.
   • Who was Mahmud of Ghazni? Due to his raids, what became the goal of his successors?
   • What was the capital of the new Muslim empire, and what was significant about its location?
5. Patterns of Conversion
   • What was the role of the Sufis in winning new converts?
   • Which two groups of people (in India) were more likely to convert to Islam?
6. Patterns of Accomodation
   • How was the relationship between high-class Hindus and Muslims?
   • How did Muslim communities (in India) become socially divided?
   • Why/How did the fusion of Muslim and Hindu culture deteriorate the status of women?
7. Islamic Challenge and Hindu Revival
   • What is a bhaktic cult?
8. Stand-off: The Muslim Presence in India at the End of the Sultanate Period
   • What were the main reasons that brahmans disliked Islam?

The Spread of Islam to Southeast Asia

1. Intro
   • What was Shrivijaya, and why was it so important to trade?
   • After Shrivijaya fell, why was it so important to establish Muslim trading centers and get new converts?
   • What was important about Malacca and Demak?
   • Why did I just use the word "important" four times?
2. Sufi Mystics and the Nature of Southeast Asian islam
   • How were the teachings of Islam distorted when it was spread by Sufis into Southeast Asia?
   • How did the ulama influence the Islamic community negatively?