Two Scientific Revolutions

The Birth and Rise of

the Caliphate

Epistemic and Political

Authority

Piety and Knowledge

Experience and Knowledge

Prudence and Knowledge

Muhammad’s Nature

A man carrying a message

The vessel of God’s word

Muhammad’s Heritage:

The Caliphate

Political Authority:

a. First among equals

b. Muhammad’s Choice

c. Precedence in Islam

Muhammad’s Heritage:

The Caliphate

Religious Authority:

a. Precedence in Islam

b. Closeness to Muhammad

c. Divine Providence

The Empire:

Apostasy Wars

What are the Apostasy Wars?

Results

a.Threat to Unity

b.Consolidation of the Elites

c.Tribalism; reconsidered

The Empire:

Succession

Traditional Solution; Collective Rule

The Choice of Umar I

The Council of Six

Abd Allah ibn Umar I

The Empire:

The Civil War

Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib

The Tribes and Muhammad’s family

Old and New Elites

Disintegration of Medina Community

The Empire:

The Umayyads

The Abbasid Revolution

Arabs and Persians

Old and New Legitimacy

New Elites

Problems and Questions

Succession

The Abbasid Civil War

New Culture

New Elites and Armies

Two Scientific Revolutions

The Birth and Rise of

the Caliphate