The Maghreb HIST 1007 11/6/13. The Spread of Islam.
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Transcript of The Maghreb HIST 1007 11/6/13. The Spread of Islam.
The Maghreb
HIST 100711/6/13
The Spread of Islam
North Africa before Islam
• Not integrated into empires• Urban centers– Connections to Europe and Byzantium– Christianity
• Small scale agriculture• Pastoralist nomads• Berbers
Roman amphitheater in El Djem, Tunisia
Arab Conquests
• 643-648: First invasion, across Libya– First Fitna
• 665-689: Second invasion, conquer Tunisia– Second Fitna
• 692-709: Third invasion, conquer Morocco• 711: Invasion of Spain• Establish numerous small states• Qayrawan: Capital of Arab Ifriqiya
Great Mosque of Qayrawan, Tunisia
Berbers and Islam
• Subject population vs. welcomed converts• Jizya and slavery• Kharijism • 740-743: Berber Revolt
– Berber tribal revolt– With Islamic trappings
• Ends with Berber states centered on tradingposts• Rustamids (r. 761-909): Kharijite Berber state centered on
Tahert
Idrisids (r. 789-926)
• Zaydi Shi’ites• Idriss I (r. 788-791): grandson of the Shi’ite Imam Hasan b. `Ali
and founder of Idrisid state• 787 – Flees `Abbasids• Seeks help of Awraba Berbers• Marries daughter of chief (birth of Morocco?)• Uses Shi’ite charisma and Berber muscle to conquer Morocco
Tomb of Idris I, Moulay Idriss, Morocco
Idrisids and Fez
• 789 – Establish the city of Fez as Idrisid capital• Encourage immigration of Arabs• Especially those escaping from `Abbasids and
Umayyads of Spain• Establish a core of Arab supporters to counter Berbers
`Abbasids and Aghlabids
• Aghlabids (r. 800-909)• `Abbasid governors of Ifriqiya turned independent dynasty• Centered on Qayrawan• The Wild West– Rebellious Arab soldiers– Berber attacks
Aghlabids and Italy
• 827 – 902: Conquest of Sicily– Part of Byzantine Empire– Along with southern Italy
• 847 – 871: Emirate of Bari – Muslim state on Italian Peninsula• 9th century piracy• 965 – 1091: Emirate of Sicily • Norman conquest of Italy• Arabs in the Norman court
Painting made for Norman king of Palermo, 1150
Fatimids in North Africa
• Isma`ili Shi’ite missionaries convert Kutana Berbers• 909: al-Mahdi declares himself caliph• Establish capital in Tunisia• Conquest of North Africa (and Sicily)• Destruction of Kharijite dynasties• 969: Conquest of Egypt• 972: Abandonment of North Africa
Walls of Mahdia, first Fatimid capital
Zirids (r. 973-1148)
• Sanhaja Berbers governing North Africa for the Fatimids
• Removal of Fatimid resources, especially navy• Sicily becomes fully independent• 1016: Shi’ite revolt violently put down• 1049: Zirids break with Fatimids, recognize
`Abbasid authority
New Arab Invasions
• Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym• Bedouin Arab tribes sent by Fatimids• 1057: Zirids lose Qayrawan• Breakdown of unified North Africa• Hammadids (r. 1014-1152): Sanhaja Berber offshoot of Zirids ruling north-eastern Algeria
Beni Hammad Fort
Almoravids (r. 1040-1147)
• Sanhaja Berbers from the Western Sahara• Trans-Saharan Trade• Gold-Salt Trade• Sijilmasa: Key trade center in northern Sahara• Almoravids pressured by Zanata Berbers to the north and the Ghana Empire to the south
Almoravids and Islam
• 1040: Berber chieftain goes on pilgrimage to Mecca• `Abdallah b. Yasin: Maliki religious scholar from
Qayrawan returns with chieftan• Teaches Qur’an, hadith, and law• Enforces strict moral code– No music, no alcohol, changes tax codes
• Promotes coming of the last days• The inner jihad• Ribat – al-murabitun - Almoravids
Maraboutism
• Marabout: religious scholar and teacher, but also Sufi saint
• Guide to a religious community• Syncretism• Ribat – murabit – marabout• Baraka, shrines, and ziyara
A marabout’s tomb in southern Morocco
Almoravids
• 1055 – take Sijilmasa from Ghana• Establish control over Trans-Saharan Trade• 1070 – Establish Marrakesh as capital• 1080 – complete conquest of Morocco• 1082 – aid requested from Spanish Muslims• Create a single state uniting Sahara, Morocco, and Spain
Almoravids and Empire
• Amir al-muslimin• Scribes from Spain• Christian mercenaries• Black ghulam• Maliki religious scholars• Elimination of Shi’ism and Kharijism
Almoravid General Abu Bakr
Muhammad b. `Abdallah b. Tumart (ca. 1080-1130)
• Berber religious scholar who studied in Baghdad and Damascus
• Mixture of strict Sunni law with Sufi charisma• 1117: Returns to Morocco as a fiery, puritan preacher• Heir to the Prophet• Return to the time of the Prophet• Mahdi, imam, and ma`sun (sinless)• Berber military strength with religious charisma
Ibn Tumart Mosque