In addition, religion formed strong spiritual bonds among the people as well (Craig 297). Political leadership also played part in the unification of the Islamic peoples, and played part in the government system over Islamic territory and conquered territories, setting up political ideals such as “little bloodshed destruction, or disruption in conquest; adoption of existing administrative systems with minimal changes…appointment of capable governors (Craig 298). Political administration within the Islamic empire played a major part in keeping peace and prosperity in the growing empire, thus making it a significant factor in the expansion of the Islamic empire from
The Islamic world had the rise and role of Dar al-Islam that was a way of unifying cultural and economic forces in Eurasia and Africa. Islam provided social continuity during and after the caliphates. The caliphates were the era of Islam’s ascendency from the death of Mohammed until the thirteenth century. There was a huge trade going on with the spread of military conquest, trade and missionary activity. The Sufis so happened to be the most active missionaries.
This boosts the individual’s self-esteem and promotes community cohesion. Mirza supports this view with her research on identity amongst young Muslims. She demonstrates how the later generations of young Muslims have created a strong identity within Islam as a form of cultural defence against British foreign policy. Muslims saw British foreign policies at the beginning of the 21st century, such as the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions, as anti-Islamic. To defend themselves against these Western ideas they reasserted the defence of their culture and religion.
This religious schism meant that the Muslims were often much more willing to ally against one another then with each other; for example by 1098 the Crusaders held an alliance with Egypt against the Turks. It also meant that Islam had no counter against the notion of ‘crusade’, a jihad was impossible with such disunity. When we combine their effect in the Crusader states in the future such as in 1187 we find this significant. This disunity was not helped by the power vacuum at the time, 1054 was often described by historians “as the year of deaths of sultans and caliphs”, such was the disunity that in
This would cause the establishment of banks and the sakk, a forerunner of checks. Trade across the silk roads and Mediterranean Sea, agricultural success, and the establishment of advanced business practices in the Byzantine Empire and Muslim world show the similarities that both civilizations possessed. Today’s world is still influenced by the cultural achievements that the Byzantines and Muslims contributed to society. The Byzantine Empire valued education and set up state run schools for its citizens that studied the Greek classics. Architectural advances were also made through establishments like the
An additional document from the perspective of an African or Asian merchant would be useful, as the documents given only showed perceptions from Europeans or Muslims. Muslim traders and merchants left a much greater cultural impact than Europeans did, as evidenced by the following documents. Islam certainly had a great reach across the eastern and western hemispheres, which helped facilitate its ideas. Documents 4, 7, and 10 all exemplify the far-reaching pathway Islam had to other parts of the world, via the world trade network. Document 4 shows how Northern and Central Africa were connected, with part of the connection stemming from the Middle East, a prominent area of Muslims.
Muslim traders advanced and took control of established trade routes on both of the continents, according to Muslim Trade Networks, in order to expand the network of trade they already possessed. The established trade routes explain why Baghdad was chosen by the Abbasids as the capital and why the Sahara desert was not considered an obstacle in the eyes of the Arabs. They describe the many routes that Muslims had to other continents and cities so that trade and religion could unite the vast empire as said in Muslim Trade Networks. The Muslim trade routes made up a true “network” because it was connected over vast amounts of land and conquests. “Under the Abbasids, the center of the Moslem world was the city of Baghdad…not chosen by inadvertence…” says Document A.
was very poorly regarded. On the other hand, during the formation of Islam, the Qur’an in around 620-650 C.E. explains an opposing view on merchants. Unlike the Book of Matthew, it states that if a merchant is honest in his trade, he will rank with the martyrs of faith (Doc. 2).
Mecca is located in what is now present day Saudi Arabia, about half way down the Western side of the Arabian Peninsula. The Kaaba, the black Islamic stone shrine established by Abraham and Ishmael, is located there. Mecca is deeply rooted in tradition, and the stones and Kaaba were erected or associated with Holy Ground, where individuals had a dramatic experience with God or Allah as he is called in Islam. During the time of Mohammed, Mecca had became a easy stopping place for the caravans and merchants along the spice trade which brought new wealth, foreign ideals and social values to Mecca. Being the stopping point brought to Mecca a host of undesirables such as; merchants, prostitutes swindlers and gamblers, whose social values would clash with that of the Arab Bedouin, who clung to traditional ideologies (Grand Canyon University, 2010, p. 1-2, para.
Changes and Continuities in The Islamic World During The 600s and Through The 700s. The Islamic world has remained constant in the way that its population is influenced by and follows the customs of the religion called Islam which determines their social/moral codes. However the Islamic world had changed over time as it expanded beyond its cultural territories and improved in its trade and education system. As centuries have passed in the Islamic world from 600 to 800 CE it can be determined that its changes and continuities are due to its religion, trade and political organization, as well as its gender roles and educational system. The first major change in the Islamic world from 600 to 800 CE was around 632 CE when Islam was created, a religious combination of Jewish, Christian, and Arabic faiths.