The Arab Empire of the Umayyads (661-750)Chapter 6 (parts 3+4 of 5)

Umayyad Build Arab Empire

Umayyad clan in control, expand Arab empire

Umayyad empire not intent on spreading

religion (not as religious as next empire)

Chaos After Muhamma

d Dies

Never appointed a

successor

Ali (son-in-law) passed over b/c he

was too young

Abu Bakr (a friend)

chosen as leader (632-

634)

Succession (who would lead) would be constant

problem

Arabs United by Abu Bakr

Ridda Wars = Abu Bakr successfully defeats opposing Arab tribes

This unites Arabs, and allows them to quickly expand their territory

Arabs Successfully Expand Through War

Islam united the

Arabs

Empires around

Arabs weak

Arabs in other

empires helped

Warriors promised

riches from conquest

So, motivated by riches, not jihad

The Surrounding Empires

Sasanian Empire Crumbling

Majority of people farmers who were taken advantage of by emperor

and upper class aristocracy

Zoroastrianism = religion of Sasanian empire, but not extremely popular

Took Arab invaders lightly, and in 651, Arabs conquered them

Byzantine Empire Also Weak

Arabs helped by people living in

Byzantine Empire:

1)Many Arabs living in Byzantine Empire helped

2)Christians in Syria and Egypt helped (Byzantines taxed and persecuted them, Muslims would not

Byzantine Empire lasted a few hundred years longer, but was greatly weakened

Problem of Succession Rears Its Ugly Head

Caliph = Muslim ruler

1st caliph = Muhammad

2nd caliph = Abu Bakr

3rd caliph = Uthman

4th caliph = ???

Uthman was Umayyad (rival of Muhammad) thus

not very popular

Uthman murdered in 656, sparking

clan violence/civil

war

Most Muslims wanted Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law) as caliph

Battle of Siffin (657)

Ali about to defeat

Umayyad at Battle of Siffin

Ali persuaded to negotiate with

Umayyad

Umayyad name

Mu’Awiya as next caliph

Supporters angry at Ali and turn on

him

Ali assassinated and his son

Hasan forced to give up claim to

caliphate

Umayyad now in full

control of the Arab empire

ShiaSunni Vs.

The Sunni-Shia (Shi’ite) SplitSunni-

Supporters of

Umayyad

- Majority of

Muslims

Shia-

Supporters of Ali-

Minority (most left Ali)

In Karbala (in 680), Ali’s 2nd son, Husayn, killed by Umayyad (Sunni and Shia have fought ever since)

Sunni Umayyad Expand Arab Empire

Build biggest empire since Rome, and control Spain to central Asia

Temporarily solving issue of succession, Umayyad expand Arab empire

Charles Martel

Arab advance into Europe stopped by Charles Martel at Poitiers

Umayyad make Damascus capital of

empire

Arabs Control Non-Arabs

Umayyad empire so large it controlled

many non-Arabs and non-Muslims

Muslims treated best in empire (first-class

citizens

No taxes on Muslims except the zakat

(charity tax)

Umayyad Stop IntermarriageDon’t want converts, less money in taxes coming in

Kept warriors separated from populations so wouldn’t intermarry

Mawali = converts to Islam, still had to pay jizya (tax on

non believers)

Too difficult to stop intermarriage

Little incentive to convert, so most didn’t

So Umayyad weren’t focused on converting

people to Islam

Dhimmis

Non-Muslims living in Arab

empire

Called “People of the Book”

(Bible)

Had to pay Jizya (tax on non-

believers)

Mostly left alone by Umayyad

leaders

B/c left alone, easier to accept

Arab ruleThe non-Muslims

Umayyad Women

Women had more status in Umayyad

empire than in areas it conquered

Hadiths – traditions set by Muhammad

(such as treating women well

Muhammad had preached treating women well

Discontent of Umayyad Grows

Umayyad leaders living

lavishly

Stop fighting wars, build

marble palaces

Muslims getting very

upset

They’ve Got Some MERV

In city of Merv (eastern Iran),

rebellion against Umayyad begins

Why be ruled by corrupt leaders

living life of luxury far away

The Abbasid Rise to Power

Abbasid led by Abu al-Abbas, great-grandson of al Abbas

Unite w/ Shia and Mawali (converts never felt accepted – still paying

jizya)

Rebels fighting the Umayyad unite under the Abbasid banner

End of Umayyad Battle on the River Zab (750)

Abbasid defeat Umayyad, get

Damascus, control Arab empire