Page 219 - Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Vol I - Abraham to Coal

104 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Wilt thou compel men to become believers? No soul
can believe but by the leave of God. • Quran

of Muhammad.This rift was the first among Muslims and is treachery.As long as I obey God and His Prophet, obey
divided them into two major groups: Sunnis and Shias. me; wherein I disobey, obey me not.”
The Sunni leaders were called “caliphs,” and the Shia During the Pious caliphate Islam spread out of the Ara-
leaders were called “imams” (religious guides). bian Peninsula to Iraq, Syria, and Persia (Iran) in the east
Caliphate rule varied in the early Islamic world, which and to Palestine, Egypt, and northern Africa in the west.
stretched from Spain to Syria. Although caliphs differed The fall of Sicily and Spain in western Europe and the fall
in style, they all were expected to keep Muslims united, of the Byzantine empire in eastern Europe were coming
repel threats to Islam, and continue the expansion of soon.
Islam in their respective areas. Despite their expected The Pious caliphate consolidated Islamic doctrines,
championship of Islam, caliphates were characterized compiled the Quran into one standard book (eliminating
more by political, military, and financial administration possible textual variations), created financial institutions
than by religious fanaticism because most Islamic lands that supported their welfare states, and set standards for
protected their religious minorities such as Jews and future political and military rule.
Christians. The Umayyad caliphate, which was founded by the
Different caliphates became known for different Banu Umayya family of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, ruled Syria
achievements. Some became known for expanding the (661–750) and Spain (756–1031). The Umayyads
realms of Islam, others for achieving great artistic heights, brought vast agricultural lands under their military con-
revolutionizing natural sciences, and creating the first trol and created a fierce feudal aristocracy who trampled
institutions of higher education. the rights of former landowners even though some of
Muslim scholars, scientists, and statesmen conceived them had converted to Islam. To increase agricultural
new ideas and institutions.They also, however, improved yield, the Umayyads extended irrigational networks,
upon their conquered subjects’ artistic and scientific experimented with new and imported seeds, and regu-
achievements, which were the result of thousands of larized peasantry and tenancy. Expansion of the agricul-
years of experience in different regions that now came tural base further increased trade and business, leading to
under Islamic rule. Synthesis and syncretism (the combi- the rise of great cities such as Damascus. Muslim com-
nation of different forms of belief or practice) also mercial links connected the Middle East with the Far East.
changed Muslim rulers’ outlook in political, socio- The same phenomenal rise in agricultural and com-
economic, and military matters. mercial economy created towns in Islamic Spain such as
The Pious (or Orthodox) caliphate (632–656) was the Granada, Cordova, and Toledo, which became centers of
collective rule of the first four caliphs: Abu Bakr, Omar, advanced culture, higher education, and unprecedented
Usman, and Ali. These “Pious” caliphs were the first religious tolerance among Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
companions and relatives of Muhammad. With the The Spanish caliphate ended in 1492 as the Catholic
exception of Abu Bakr, they were assassinated, plunging Reconquista (reconquest) ousted the last Spanish Mus-
Muslims into violent sectarianism and civil wars. lims and Jews from Spain. The Syrian Umayyads lost
Abu Bakr established caliphal standards and expecta- their rule to a newly rising Muslim family, the Abbasids,
tions in a memorable speech that he delivered to Muslims their original rivals in Mecca.
immediately after receiving their trust and allegiance. He The Abbasid caliphate (749/750–1258) ruled from its
said, “O People! You have chosen me as your Chief, celebrated capital of Baghdad, Iraq. Its rule spread Islam
although I am not the best among you. I need all your into Persia (Iran), central Asia, Afghanistan, and north-
advice and all your help. If I do well, support me; if I western India. The Abbasids were known chiefly for
make a mistake, then set me right. To tell the ruler truly intellectual, artistic, and scientific achievements. They
what you think of him is faithfulness; to conceal the truth were great patrons of scholarly research, most of which