7. ISLAM, MEDIEVAL EUROPE, CRUSADES
NOTE: You need not take notes on the basic background part of this because you are getting those notes from the textbook assignment.
ISLAM: THE BASICS
ISLAM
“There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is His Prophet” La ilaha illa Allah wa-Muhammad rasul Allah.
Background • "to submit to the will of Allah," • youngest of the world's major religions. • monotheistic religion • Islam is currently the second most practiced religion in the world, • predicted to overtake Christianity as the most popular religion in the world sometime during the 21st century.
Islamic Ideas 4: Five Pillars of Islam 1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
The Shahadah “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” Salah - Canonical prayer – 5 times daily (congregational worship not required, but common in mosques) – direction: Mecca Zakah – Charity -everything belongs to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakah means both "purification" and "growth." Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the society in general Sawm – fasting during Ramadan – month of daytime fasting (no food, no drink, no smoking, no sexual activity until nightfall) Hajj (Pilgrimage) – once in your life to Mecca
Islam Sacred Text • Qur'an • only Arabic Koran is Qur'an • translations are simply interpretations • First-person “speechlike” document in which God speaks
Islam History • “islam” = peace, surrender • “allah” = THE God • Muhammad (Seal of the prophets, means “highly praised”) • 6th – 7th century Arabia = chaotic, tribal • Muhammad = orphaned, raised by uncle, pure-hearted, good marriage • Muhammad meditates regularly in a cave
Islam History • Muhammad entranced, then awoke knowing and “proclaimed” God’s word • Men claiming to be prophets usually claimed as well to work miracles – not Muhammad “I came to tell truth”
Islam History • Violent opposition to his message by those who would lose wealth and power of status quo • Message gets out – selected as leader of Yathrib, northern city
Islam History • Yathrib becomes “Medinat alNabi” – now shortened to medina “City of the Prophet” • Strong leader, Muhammad gradually conquers Arabia. • Mecca central to Islam – cubicle temple in center said to be built by Abraham
Islamic Ideas • Allah, “the God” • According to Muslims, only they are true monotheists and introduced it. • Hindus = err in many images • Christians = err in making Jesus divine and Trinity and so forth • Jews = received correct instruction, but teachings confined to them
Islamic Ideas • Good and evil exist, Allah will punish the evil (similar to Christian concept of last Judgment) • Allah created the world. • Matter created by perfect being, though cannot be perfect (cannot have 2 perfections), is overwhelmingly good • Humans = good (reject Christian concept of “The Fall”)
Islamic Ideas • 2 obligations of humans: gratitude and surrender to Allah • Life = once and for all choice for good or evil, then Last Judgment after death and trip to heaven or hell
Islam Variations 1. 2. 3.
Sunnis Shi’ites Sufis 1.
Mystics
ISLAMIC GOLDEN AGE
Ibn Rushd • Commentary and translation of Aristotle’s works
Mathematics • Numerical system of India • Use of zero • Algebra • Astronomy • astrolabe
Ibn Sina • Medical encyclopedia • Understanding of contagious nature of disease • Translated to Latin – became basic text for European docs in Middle Ages
Ibn-Khaldun • Historian • Muqaddimah (Intro to History text) • Saw history as cyclical – civs go through cycles of birth, growth, and decay • Looked for scientific factors to describe history
Omar Khayyam • Rubaiyat • 1001 (Arabian) Nights • poetry
Art • Blend of Arab, Turkish, and Persian influences • Major art form: mosques
Great Mosque of Samarra
Mosque at Cordoba
Alhambra Palace Spain
Preservation of Knowledge • Translation of works of Rome and Greece preserved amid possible destruction and loss from disintegrating empires • Paper technology imported from China
Huge Prosperity • Control of trade routes • Conquest of wealthy territories • Connections to the entire Eurasian world! • Cities and markets make it happen
Medieval Europe
The Big Picture 4th-5th centuries Roman Empire Allies with “Barbarians” To watch over regions In name of Rome
476 Western Roman Empire Falls
8th-9th centuries Invasion, instability, decentralization Vikings Magyars
5th-8th centuries “Dark Ages” Barbarian Kingdoms Mostly fail
9th century Charlemagne One Europe Holy Roman Empire
11th century Crusades
10th century fragmentation
12th-13th century “High Middle Ages”
Manorialism Economic system ✔“Insular”; independent ✔Social hierarchy ✔Land = “wealth generator” ✔Wealth trickle-down ✔
commons
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Feudalism Political system ✔Social hierarchy ✔Obligations up and down ✔Rights and responsibilities ✔Three estates ✔Middle Ages as transformation of Roman world ✔
New Agriculture Population growth Climate change Technology
Mills ● Iron tools ● Carruca ● Iron plow ● Horse collar ● Horseshoe 2-field to 3-field system ●
Knighthood Expensive Land needed for wealth to support
Duties to the Overlord “hommage” Chivalry
Guilds •Crafts organized by guilds •Guild Halls Monopoly Prices wages
•Levels •Master •Journeyman •Apprentice
The Crusades
The First Crusades … in a nutshell Muslims conquer Palestine 7th century Christians on pilgrimage No problem
11th century – Seljuk Turks take Palestine - not nice!
1096 First Crusade
1095 Pope Urban II Preaches Crusade To liberate Holy Land
Persecution of Jews For centuries to come
1187 Saladin unites Muslims – ejects Christians
1097 Constantinople (invitation regretted!) 1099 Jerusalem
Many more crusades Follow through the 15th cen. not successful
Europe transformed Break down feudalism ●
Serfs can now buy freedom
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Decrease in population of knights
Increase authority of kings Increase demand for luxury goods from the east ●
Commerce increases permanently
Increase in knowledge from the east
Crusades: causes •Seljuk Turks take Holy Land –Limit pilgrim access –Not as nice as the other Turks to Christians –Threatened Byzantines •Asked for help from the west –Boy was that a mistake!
Muslim Perspective At first thought was Byzantines Termed all “Franks” – thought just another imperialist action as seen in Spain Barbarians from the north Not a lot of religious context for Muslims here, but for some idea was Jerusalem should be controlled by Muslims Not for all Crusaders either!
7-2 ARGUMENT
7-2. (Argument) Make a case that contemporary American culture is inferior to Medieval European culture. Vocabulary: • • • • • • • • •
social hierarchy Vassal Serf mutual obligation Estates Wergild Ordeal Chivalry guild
NOTE: There are LOTS of possible arguments for both sides of this debate. Here are only a few. If you don’t like these, use your own.
Make a case that contemporary American culture is inferior to Medieval European culture. FOR
• In medieval Europe you “knew your place” • Church had a role in society – regulated lives, making people more holy • Too much emphasis on the “here and now” in modern times – too much materialism and focus on happiness in this life – that’s an illusion we’d do well to live without
AGAINST
• No individual freedom in medieval times • Law was defined by who has the muscle, not consent of the people • Serfdom is immoral • Capitalism is a good way to run an economy • War among wealthy, powerful families should not drag in the whole country. • Trial by ordeal is not fair. Trial where some people have more say than others is not fair. The leaders are not above the law.
7-3. (Informational) Examine the achievements of any THREE great leaders of this topic People: • • • • •
Charlemagne Saladin Godefroi de Bouillon Charles Martel Mohammad
NOTE: There are LOTS of important people in this time period – you need not choose any of these – I chose these five as options.
CHARLEMAGNE (768-814)
Dynasties: Holy Roman Empire (Charlemagne)
Carolingian Renaissance •century of unified Carolingian rule w •stamping a common historical and cultural imprint on Western Europe •development of schools & basic education
Carolingian Renaissance •basis for a common European culture, a •built Catholic Christianity into every aspect of life in Europe. •established the framework for European intellectual life until the emergence of the universities in the twelfth century.
SALADIN
Saladin • first Sultan of Egypt and Syria • led Islamic opposition against the European Crusaders • led conquest of lots of Muslim territory through Mesopotamia and North Africa and the Levant • defeated the Crusaders at the decisive Battle of Hattin in 1187 • Lead the way to the Muslims' recapture of Palestine from the Crusaders who conquered it 88 years earlier • turning point!
Saladin • prominent figure in Muslim, Arab, Kurdish culture. • noble and chivalrous behavior was noted by Christian chroniclers • won the respect of many • Richard the Lionheart
• = led the Third Crusade
• Saladin became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry. • 1192 he died in Damascus a relatively poor man, having given much of his wealth to his subjects
GODEFROI DE BOULLLON
Godefroy de Bouillon • medieval Frankish knight on First Crusade • 1096 until his death. • After the successful siege of Jerusalem in 1099, Godfrey became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem • refused the title "King"; believed true King of Jerusalem = Christ.
• took out loans on most of his lands, or sold them, to the bishops • gathered thousands of knights to fight in the Holy Land The sword of Godfrey of Bouillon, displayed at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Godefroy de Bouillon • legend of Godfrey of Bouillon Jerusalem • his army reached the city in June 1099 and built wooden ladders to climb over the walls • Godfrey and some of his knights were the first to get over the walls • end to three years of fighting by the Crusaders • finally done what they had set out to do in 1096
See section on Islam…
MUHAMMAD
7-4. (Informational) Describe the spiritual and secular role of the Church in Medieval Europe. Vocabulary: • in regula • in secula • Clergy • Laity • holy orders • Monastery • excommunication, • Interdict • Simony • sacrament
Medieval help desk...
Medieval Church ~500 to ~750 = development of the Catholic Church. In Rome, popes gradually turned away from Mediterranean - relationships w/ political leaders of Western Europe. Popes ●
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institutional leadership in central Italy the papal state. great patrons of art and learning in and around Rome.
Bishops •important local leaders. •As new kingdoms grew, more bishoprics were created. •Bishops coming together in councils could legislate for their whole realms long before kings could do so. •Bishops became key advisers to kings.
Monasteries •spread all across Europe. •Monks played a key role in converting the people of the countryside. •Many missionaries were Irish or Anglo-Saxon monks who traveled far to preach and teach. •Monasteries were often important centers of learning.
Medieval Church
New Orders •Cistercians •Outside monastery
•Hildegard of Bingen •chant
•Franciscans •Dominicans •Heresy is… •The Inquisition •Purpose •method
7-5. (Informational) Compare and contrast the rise of the Umayyad and Abassid Empires Vocabulary: • • • • • • • •
Caliph Rivalry Vizier Sultan Crusades Dhimmi dar al-islam shariah
SPREAD OF ISLAM
Heirs to Rome Germanic Kingdoms
Byzantine Empire
Muslim Empires
Muslim Empires • Arab
• Umayyad • Abbasid • Fatimid and Seljuk • Mongol
Rise of the Umayyad 661 Gen. Mu’awiyah
Gov Syria Becomes caliph Makes the job hereditary
“Use force only when absolutely necessary” Capital moved to Damascus from Madinah Dynasty lasts 661-750
Rise of the Abbasid •
750
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Dynasty lasts 750-1258
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Resentment against Umayyads grows
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Abu al-Abbas overthrows Umayyads
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Build new capital at Baghdad
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Trade corssroads
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Increased Persian influence
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Cultural shift •
Honor judges, merchants, bureaucrats instead of warriors
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Broke down elite status of Arab Muslims
Similarities • Toleration of Jews and Christians (with some limits…) • Expansion of territory • Conflict over succession to Caliphate • Empires end by breakup into smaller, independent states only to be reunified by the next • Huge wealth from conquering rich lands and controlling trade routes • Islam expands to non-Arabs through conquest and trade routes • Arabic alphabet used to write • Shariah law basis of law
