Islamic Empires Flashcards
What was the relationship between Arabs and Muslims in Early Islam?
The vast majority of early Muslims were Arabs, but there were also non-Arab Muslims, as well as Christian and Jewish Arabs.
Some Christians participated in the conquests.
What motivated the early Muslim conquests?
Many early Muslims believed they were living in the End Times and that God wanted them to prepare the way through jihad.
What does the Quran say about conversion to Islam?
The Quran states there is no compulsion in religion, allowing Jews and Christians to keep their faiths if they submitted to Islamic authority and paid a special tax, the jizya.
Did Muslims control vast regions through war and conquest?
Yes, Muslims controlled vast regions through war and conquest, but the goal was not to forcibly convert everyone.
Who were the Rashidun Caliphs?
The Rashidun Caliphs were Abu Bakr al-Sadiq, Umar b. al-Khattab, Uthman b. Affan, and Ali b. Abi Talib.
What were the timelines of the early Muslim conquests?
632-640: Syria; 639-642: Egypt; 632-652: Iraq, Iran, Armenia; 642-670: North Africa; 700s: Afghanistan & Pakistan; 711-714: most of Spain.
What characterized the Umayyad Caliphate?
The Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) began after the last Rashidun was assassinated, with the capital moved to Damascus and continued conquests.
What were the achievements of ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwan?
He ended the 2nd Fitna, expanded the empire, built the Dome of the Rock, introduced Islamic coinage, and made Arabic the official language of the government.
What was the significance of the Umayyad-era conquests?
By 732, Muslims reached the Pyrenees in Europe and Sindh in South Asia, with most of the territory remaining predominantly Muslim.
What was the ‘Golden Age’ of the Abbasid Caliphate?
The ‘Golden Age’ of the Abbasid Caliphate lasted from 750 to 945, after which the caliphs became mostly figureheads.
Who was al-Mā’mūn and what did he establish?
Al-Mā’mūn (r. 813-833) was a caliph who established the ‘Bayt al-Ḥikma’ or ‘House of Wisdom’ and favored rationalist interpretations of the Quran.
What was the Miḥna?
The Miḥna was a period where caliphs ordered scholars to take an oath confirming the created-ness of the Quran, leading to imprisonment for dissenters.
What were al-Mutawakkil’s policies?
Al-Mutawakkil ended the Miḥna, supported hadith-based theology, and persecuted Shi’ites, Christians, and Jews.
What were the reasons for the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate?
Reasons included the empire being too large, powerful generals, religious dissent, ethnic divisions, weak caliphs, and palace intrigue.
What was the basic issue of the Shī‘ī–Sunnī divide?
The basic issue was who should lead the umma after Muhammad: his blood relatives or another qualified Muslim.
