Islamic Empires

Islam – remember from the last unit?

“submission to God’s will”

Muhammad is founder (c. 570 - 632 AD)

monotheistic, worship Allah

all are equal, despite race, color, socio-economic status (yes, women, too)

Quran (Koran) is the holy book

Mecca

Five Pillars

belief in Allah and his prophet Muhammad.

daily prayer - 5 times

pay alms

observe Ramadan (including fasting)

pilgrimage to Mecca - hajj

Islam Split: Sunni or Shi’ite (shee-ite?

Sunni

Majority of Islam

based on merit system

caliph is successor

Shi’ite

cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed, Ali starts this group

Imam

Differences?A lot of variations - especially as African, Asian and others adopted and mixed with their own.

tolerance for other religions for a period (whereas Christians were killing each other over minor differences, especially in the Middle Ages)

A few more things . . .

No idolatry, no images

mosques - no images of people, animals

no gambling, pork, alcohol

women isolated The Black Stone

The Black Stone

Islamic Art

Islamic Art 1tessellations

symbolize infinity

Alhambra in Spain (Moorish palace) inspired M.C. Escher

Islamic Art 2

complex star polygons

symbolism: abstract picture of the universe

Islamic Art 3

linear repeat patterns

border tessellations (to keep from going to infinity)

symbolize rhythm and time

Islamic Art 4

arabesques - stylized vegetation

symbolize organic earth

Islamic Art 5

calligraphy

shows word of God - most important

Which elements of Islamic Art can you identify in these?

Arab EmpireIslam united Arabs - empire began to expand (650 CE) into Persia and Turkey

not forced to convert

Expand to north Africa - Berbers

then to Spain (Moors)

by 725 CE, most of Spain is Muslim

Detail of Islamic Architecture at Alhambra

in Spain

Arab Empire (in green)

Arab Empire (cont)Turks pressure Byzantine Empire (1071 CE)

request for help from Europe

lead to the Crusades

1258 - Mongols sack Baghdad (lead by Genghis Khan)

Genghis Khan

Ottoman Empire1520 - 1604

1520 Suleyman the Magnificent, Ottoman Sultan

harem - sultan’s private residence

cannon, muskets, infantry

Took Constantinople (now Istanbul) and to Europe

minarets

Ottoman Empire at height

Safavid Empire: 1501 - 1723Persia

shah is in charge

patron of arts, Isfahan

silk, Persian carpets

Shi’ite Empire

Mughal Empire: India, 1504-1757tolerant, allowed Hinduism

Had gunpowder, artillery for warfare (made them powerful)

Founder: descendant of Genghis Khan

Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan

1757 - sold India to British

Hindu/Muslim conflicts despite tolerance

Paintings - miniatures

Mughal Empire

Some Contributionsmath - the number zero (brought from India)

algebra developed

sailing technology, maps

Arabic - language important - Quran and poetry

irrigation canals, cisterns

tiles, metalwork, carpets

foods

architecture

To think about . . . Modern-day negative stereotypes: Muslim terrorist, Arab terrorists, Muslim/Arab are the same (they are not), kidnap western women, Arab as uncivilized or barbaric. Remember, stereotypes are untrue characteristics.

How does the media represent Arabs/Muslims? What kinds of stories are reported?

Foods - oranges, figs, cloves, ginger, pepper, saffron,

coffee, barley, limes, lemons, etc.

BibliographyAn Introduction to the Humanities

AWAIR

www.islamicity.org/Culture/Calligraphy/Calig3.htm

philae.sas.upenn.edu/Arabic/Arab1.gif

philae.sas.upenn.edu/Arabic/Arab19.gif

www.famu.edu/cas/histpol/eidahl/woh1012/Images/HammurabiCode.jpg

dar-us-salam.com/68pillars-islam.htm

search.corbis.com/default.asp?i=10134279&vID=1&rID=101

www.islamtz.org/

www.eyewire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/View.woa/wa/viewProduct?cid=2&product=46594

Bibliography (cont)www.forum.swarthmore.edu/algebra/alg.lessons.html

www.islam.org/culture/MOSQUES/Makkah/SSPI.htm

www.burleyms.demon.co.uk/Ramadan.html

www.allwall.com/asp/sp-asp/_/NV--1_4_10/PD--10002070/SZ--3/1.asp

www.exploreturkey.com/pic_htms/toist088.htm

www.abc-overseas.com/

www.rugreview.com/orr.htm

sakkal.com/instrctn/Kufi01.html

www.dnai.com/~gui/awairproductinfo.html

www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/I_Transp/IO6_Shia.html

Bibliography (cont)csis.pace.edu/~cs552/wagenberg/Mughal_map.html

novaonline.nv.cc.va.us/eli/evans/HIS111/map.html

history.adm.binghamton.edu/hist130/maps/ottoman.htm

www.ucalgary.ca/HIST/tutor/islam/empires/safavid/abbas.html

edweb.cnidr.org/india/mughals.html

www.la-soccer.com/

www.studentambassadors.org/explore/china.htm

www.metmuseum.org/collections/department.asp?dep=14

www.aicpmultimedia.org/images/islamic_pictures/sayings-2/supplication.jpg

www.aicpmultimedia.org/images/islamic_pictures/sayings-3/aya-2.jpg