The Early Middle Ages and ISLAM

THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES AND ISLAM

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index

1. THE MIDDLE AGES

2. INVASIONS

3. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

4. ISLAM: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

5. ISLAM: SOCIETY AND CULTURE

THE MIDDLE AGES: GENERAL IDEAS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

THE MIDDLE AGES

SOCIAL DEVELOMPMENTS

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS

the birth of islam

6.- Muhammad enemies feared that this monotheistic religion would disrupt society, and forced him and his followers to run away from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D.

1.- ISLAM originated in the Arabic Peninsula, between the Red Sea, the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf

7.- This event is known as The Hegira, and is year 1 of Islamic calendar

8.- From Medina, Muhammad reorganised his doctrine and followers, formed and army an launched over Mecca. in 630 he conquered the city.

3.- They were politheists, spoke Arabic and competed for the control of the trading routs and the oasis.

2.- The region was inhabited by nomadic tribes that farmed livestock and traded in groups (caravans), moving luxury goods from Asia to Europe.

9.- In 632 A.D. Muhammad died. By that year most of the Arab tribes were under his control

4.- Their capital was Mecca, that was also a center of worship

5.- In 610 A.D. Muhammad, a trader from Mecca claimed that Angel Gabriel had preached him a new religion called Islam

1.- 5TH TO 11 CENTURIES: EARLY MIDDLE AGES: - GERMAN KINGDOMS - HEIGHT OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE - BIRTH AND SPREAD OF ISLAM - CAROLINGIAN EMPIRE

THE MIDDLE AGES

HISTORICAL PERIOD THAT:- BEGAN IN 476 (V CENTURY) WITH THE FALL OF WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

- IT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE STAGES

2.- 11 TH TO 13TH CENTURIES: - FEUDAL SYSTEM - FIRST CRUSADES - ROMANESQUE ART

3.- 13TH TO 15TH CENTURIES: LATE MIDDLE AGES - DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE - GOTHIC ART - BLACK DEATH

- ENDED IN 1453 (XV CENTURY) WITH THE FALL OF THE EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE (BYZANTINE EMPIRE)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

2.- EASTERN EUROPE: The BYZANTINE EMPIRE was the main power, but in the 7th century it was challanged by the ISLAM.

1.- WESTERN EUROPE:- The GERMANIC KINGDOMS replaced the Roman Empire

- These kingdoms were monarchies. The Monarch was the most powerfum member of the nobitlity. This caused problems when the monarch died.

- During High and Middle Ages INVASIIONS caused great INESTABILITY

- Islam created an EMPIRE that extended from the Iberian Peninsula to India.

- Urban economic development gave the monarch more resources, so they could limit nobilities power.

- Nobility had their own armies, and monarchs granter them power and lands.

- As Middel Ages advanced, monarchies became HERIDITARY - Inestability began to desappear. - Trade recovered - People returned to cities...

- In the High Middel Ages the muslim world fragmented and the Christians began the Crusades.

1.- Invasions during the Early Middle Ages were a major problem that led to economic crisis

4.- During the High Middle Ages: - Trade routs were promoted by monarchs. - Trade fairs helped to increase the power of the monarch over the nobility.

2.- Trade declined, and people migrated to the countryside for protection.

5.- Cities began to develope once again and craftwork and trade recovered.

3.- subsistance agriculture was the main activity

6.- In some cities, traders became very rich. - At the same time, people obtained grater political and economic freedom.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

7.- These richer people began to form alliances independently to defend their common interests, as in Genoa or Venice....

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS

EARLY MIDDLE AGES

HIGH MIDDLE AGES

LATE MIDDLE AGES

INVASIONS

THE GERMANIC PEOPLES

OTHER INVADERS

INVASIONS

the germanic peoples

1.- These societies were rural warlike tribes. Their main activity: Agriculture.

2.-They were a minority, but the became the landowning nobility of the Ancient Roman Empire

• From the 3rd century onwards Germanic tribes settled in the Roman Empire.
• They came from East Europe.
• When the Roman Empire collapsed they had already established kingdoms there.

1. The OSTROGOTHS:
2. Led by Theodoric.
1. In the 5th Century they settled in the Italian Peninsula
2. In the 6th century they were expelled by Justinian
3. The Visigoth:
1. First they settlede souther Gaul.
2. Later the Franks expelled them to the Iberian Peninsula.
4. The Suebi: in Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
5. The Franks.
1. Powerful Germanic Kingdom
2. Expelled the Visigoths from France after the battle of Vouillé (5o7 A.D.)
6. Angles, Juts and Saxons: They went from Denmark to Eastern Great Britain.
7. Other peoples gave name to certain regions of Europe: Burgundians, Saxons, Alemanii, Thuringii, Lombards.

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3.- Germanic peoples divided society: There were religious and judicial differences between them and the inhabitants of Ancient Roman Empire.

7.- Constant fights among nobles caused great inestability

4.- When they converted to Christianity division disappeared, and the elite became a single group.

5.- Below them: The Farmers

7.- Most of their culture and traditions gradually disappeared as they adopted the ones of the conquered territories

6.- The monarchs governed with the help of a Royal Council

1.- THE SLAVS: From the North of the Carpathian Mountains. From the 6th century they stablished small kingdoms:

From Denmark and the Scandinavian Peninsula

From the 8th century they began to sack the coast of Northern Europe

The vikings were expert sailors and thanks to their ships they could also sail along rivers

• In the Balkan Peninsula: THE SOUTHERN SLAVS: (Bulgarians, Serbs, Croatians and Slovenians)
• In Central Europe: THE WESTERN SLAVS (Czechs, Slovakians, Poles)
• In present-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: THE EASTERN SLAVS

9-10th Centuries: they settled permanently in England and France. They also colonised Iceland and Greenland

NORMAND:Vikings who converted to Chritianity in Normandy.

b.- THE VIKINGS

a.- THE SLAVS

THE MAGYARS: From the Great Plains of the EAST; they settled in Ukraine (9th Cent.) From there they sacked Central and Eastern Europè. in the 10th Cent. they settled in Panonia forming the Kingdom of Hungary.

OTHER INVADERS

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

CULTURE

POLITICAL ORGANISATION

RELIGION

THE ECONOMY

BYZANTINE ART

SOCIETY

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

5.- Different peoples attacked the Byzantine Empire

1. The Neo-Persian empire from the East.
1. The Byzantine victory was not enough, and the conflict continued.
2. As a result, military resources got deplected
2. In the 7th century: the MUSLIMS
1. They conquered more than half the Empire (Syria, Palestine, Egypt)
3. All these conflicts made the Byzantines to adopt defensive strategies against the attacks of
1. The Slavs in the North
2. The Muslims in the South.

1.- The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) resisted German invasions and lasted for a thousand years

2.- In the 6th Century it reached its peak during the reign of Justinian and Teodora. They tried to reunified the Roman Empire

3.- The political instability of the Germanic kingdoms helped the Byzantine army to defeat: - The Vandals in North Africa - The Ostrogoths on the Italian Peninsula - The Visigoths in Balearic Islands and South of the Iberian Peninsula.

4.- From the 7th to the 10th century the Empire gradually lost power, lands and people.

3.- ARCHITECTURE:

• Conserved Roman Semicircular arches.
• They also used basilica floor plans.
• Architects introduced new features:

1.- It was very decorative and included:

• Mosaics
• Paintings
• Icons
• Sculptures

3.a.- PENDENTIVES: To increase the size do the domes:

3.b.- BUTTRESS: To support the weight of domes.

2.- Figures had the following characteristics:

• They were flat
• They were painted in bright colours
• They were facing forwards with unexpressive faces
• They vere very rigid.

4.- The most important building is Hagia Sophia.

3.c.- They also introduced the GREEK-CROSS FLOOR PLAN, with arms of equal legth

5.- It was commissioned by Justinina I, and it became the largest church in the Christian world for a thousand years

5.b.- It is decorated with Mosaics and Frecoes.

6.- Other important Byzantine Churches: St Sergius and St Bacchus (Constantinople) St. Vitale and St Apollinaris (Ravenna Italy)

BYZANTINE ART

5.a.- Its dome was the largest onee from the Middle Ages

ISLAM: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

THE BIRTH OF ISLAM

POLITICAL ORGANISATION OF THE CALIPHATE

MUSLIM RELIGION

THE ECONOMY

THE EXPANSION OF THE MUSLIM EMPIRE

OTHER IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

the expansion of the muslim empire

1.- THE ORTHODOX CALIPHATE (632-661 A.D.)

2.- THE UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750 A.D.)

3.- THE ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-1258 A.D.)

4.- THE CRISIS OF THE CALIPHATE

5.- OTHER ISSUES

ISLAM:SOCIETY AND CULTURE

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

FAMILY AND WOMEN

CULTURAL DEVELOPEMNTS

LIVING IN A MUSLIM CITY

ISLAMIC ART

ISLAMIC ART

1.- Koran prohibited the representation of human figures. This limited Sculpture and painting

2.- Decorative designs were very important. They used some different elements.

4.- The most important building was the MOSQUE

3.- MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE: - Used poor materials (brick, adobe) covered with more attractive materials and decoratiions.

Kairouan Mosque, Tunisia

1.- Islam had an importan cultural impact:- It spread knowledge and technology across the known continents: Paper, compas and gunpowder from China, - Chess from India - They also collected and spread classical knowledge from Ancient Greece

2.- They also benefited from having a common language and alphabet: ARABIC - Muslims had to learn to read and write to be able of reading the Koran. - The most famous literary work of the perior: "One Thousand and one Nights"

3.- They made important advances in Astronomy of Mathematics, as the use os ZERO, ARABIC NUMERALS AND ALGEBRA

5.- Averroes: - He made the work of Aristotle popular in the 12th century.

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS

4.- MEDICINE: - They improved techniques, and made important advances in Surgery and Anaesthesia. - Preventive medicine and hygiene standards improved. - Avicena: wrote "The Canon of Medicine" a book compiling the whole of the knowledge on the subjet of the time. - That book was the reference in medicine for centuries.

1.- The main economic activity: agriculture, organized around large farmes: LATIFUNCIA

THE ECONOMY

2.- CITIES: Were important economic centres.

• Craftwork: was the main activity.
• Artisans produced great value articles.
• They used precious metals to make jeweller .
• Dyes increased the value of frabrics.
• Silk works and tapestry were used to decorate furniture and walls.

TRADE. was also very important

• The main routes between Europe, Asia and Africa crossed the Empire.
• Precious goods arrived to Byzantium: Ivory, perfumes, precious stones, Slaves, spices...

B.- TRADE:

• It was the main source of wealth of the caliphate.
• The tradition of trading and the expansion of the Caliphate le to the creation of important networks between Europe, Africa, Asia

OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

A.- CRAFTWORK

• Developed in cities.
• Artisans made valuable products for trading: Textiles, carpets, Jewellery, glass and ivory objects.

c.1.- Western Europe

c.2.- Eastern Europe

c.3.- The Silk Road

C.4.- Africa

D.- CURRENCY: As the Caliphate had abundance of precious metals and to facilitate trade and exchanges, the lands under their control began to use the same currency:

• Gold DINAR
• Silver DIRHAM

c.- Four important trading points:

1.- The CALIPH ruled the Muslim world from Medina.

2.- The first four Caliphs were Muhammad's successors.

THE ORTHODOX CALIPHATE (632-661 A.D.)

4.- Islam spreaded to:

• Egypt
• Palestine
• Syria
• Mesopotamia
• Persia

3.- Under their rule, they defeated:

• The Byzantine Empire
• The Neo-Persian Empire

1.- The emperor controlled the Church, and the Church prosecuted HERETICS and also converted people to Christianity outside the Empire

RELIGION

2.- Two major conflicts for the Byzantine Church

a.- The ICONOCLASTIC wars: (8 to 9 Cents)

• Some emperors prohibited worshiping religious icons, as they thought it was against the believes of the Bible.
• Icons were very important for Byzantine religious traditions.
• There were various very violent conflicts.
• Finally the Emperor reversed his decision.

b .- The EAST-WEST SCHISM

• The head of the Christian Church was the Pope of Rome.But Rome was no more important.
• Its place was now occupied by Constantinople.
• In 1054 the Christian Church divided, following the conflict between
• Pope Leo IX
• The Patriach of Constantinople Michael I

EARLY MIDDLE AGES

1.- Most of the urban population migrated to the countryside searching protecci´n from the nobles.

2.- Nobles owned land and castles, so they could defend them against attacks.

3.- This is how many farmers became serfs of the high nobility,

4.- Serfs had to work on a noble's land, and couldn't leave that land.

THE CRISIS OF THE CALIPHATE

1.- Frequent wars divided the Caliphate into indedendet onesa.- The Caliphate of Corduba b.- The Caliphate of Egypt.

2.- The expansion of the TURKS began in the 13th century, challenging the Caliphate.

4.- Art: two styles: romanesque and Gothic. At the end of the period, the interes in classical Greek and Roman art helped to develope Renaissance. This change marked the end of Middle Ages and the beginning of Early Modern Ages

1.- Byzantine Empire: mantined Roman Traditions, but gradually adopted Greek culture and language

3.- The Church: controlled culture and was a forces to unify society. Religious differences were a threat to social and political order. This causes frequent religious wars

2.- Western Europe: the invades converted to Christianity.

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS

HIGH MIDDLE AGES

1.- Lords were the owner of land. They were powerful, and made lower nobility to become their vassals.

2.- These lower nobles defended the fiefdoms in exchange for protection

3.- The feudal lords were the highest political and judicial authority in their lands

4.- Because of the resources they controled, they sometimes were more powerful than the monarchs

THE ECONOMY

3.- AGRICULTURE: It was less important in the Arab Peninsula because of the lack of water. They developed irrigation systems, which they exported to the areas they conquered.- Waterwheels to extract water - Wells and reservoirs to store water - Dykes (channels) to transport water - Terraces: to cultivate hilly areas

2.- LIVESTOCK: a.- To produce raw material (wool, leather) and food (milk, meat) they kept:

• Sheep
• Goats

b.- To transport goods:

• Camels,
• Donkeys
• Horses

1.- The arabs were expert livestock farmers

3.- OTHER ISSUES a.- They introduce new techiques to preserve food, as PICKLING. b.- They brought new products to Europe such as rice, cotton, sugar cain, citrus fruits... and vegetables such as Aubergies, carrots or spinachs.

3.- The Sharia law, based on the Koran, allowed men who coluld support them ant their children, to have four wifes

2.- Women had to obey their father or husband, who supported them

1.- Muslim society, like any others of that time, was PARTIARCHAL

THE FAMILY AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN MUSLIM SOCIETY

4.- Women did domestic tasks, and fulfill some professions, such as MIDWIFERY

6.- Men and women were equal vefore Allah, and had the same religious obligations

5.- Upper class women could have a higher education and turn into famous intellectuals

1.- WHEN? Between the 3rd and 10th centuries there were mass migrations in Europe.

2.- First Germanic Peoples defeted the Western Roman Empire.

4.-

• From the EAST: Slavs and Magyars.
• From the NORTH: Vikings
• From the SOUTH: Muslims

3.- Then, some other tribes arrived:

MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE

1.- The muslims adopted characteristic from different cultures.

2.- This included: - Arches: semicircular archs from Romans. - Later on they added during the Umayyads period in al-Andalus keystones in different colours.

3.- They also adapted DOMES.

• Golden Domes and vaults from the Byzantine Empire
• Horseshoe Arches from the Visigoths
• Lobed Arches from the East

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

The Byzantine Empire had a centralised political system

• The Emperor of BASILEUS: held absolute power.
• He ruled through his government, army and the Church.
• Officials and the powerful army defended the borders of the Empire.

Justinian established THE CODEX JUSTINIANUS, a common legal code for the whole of the Empire

1.- As the Byzantine Empire was a crossroad between the Christian and Muslim worls, it became a major cultural center

3.- Later, Hellenic culture was adopted:

• The Emperor became the BASILEUS
• Greek was adopted as the official language.

CULTURE

2.- Until the end of Justinian's Reign

• The Byzantine Empire adopted the role of heir of the Roman empire.
• They conserved the legacy and lifestyle of the Roman Empire.
• The Emperor built great monuments (Hagia Sophia)
• He also reorganized Roman Legislation. (Codex Justinianus)

1.- Finally, the invasions ended... and many people returned to cities, leaving the fiefdoms

2.- As a result cities (burghs) increased their population.

3.- The Middle Class appeared: they were the bourgueoisie and were artisans, traders....

LATE MIDDLE AGES

3.- EMIR

1.- CALIPH

4.- QUADIS

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CALIPHATE

5.- DIWANS

2.- VIZIER

DECORATIVE FEATURES

1.- Instead of human figure, they used CALLIGRAPHY

2.- They also had a type of decoration known as ARABESQUE

3.- The thrid type of decoration was LATTICE-WORK

4.- These three types of decorations appearen in painting, sculpture, mosaics, plasterwork, ceramics, miniatures...

1.- The rapid expansion of Islam can be explained thanks to

a.- The JIHAD: muslim soldiers were moved by religious reasons. Most of the opposing armies were conscripted by their rulers, or just fought in exchange of a reward

b.- The Decline of the neighbouring empires: The Byzantine and Neo-Persian empire declined because of centuries of continuos wars against each other.

c.- Muslim Diplomacy.

• Both Byzantines and Neo-Persians imposed heavy taxes on the population.
• Many inhabitants of these empires saw the Muslims as liberators.
• Muslims allowed enemy rulers to retain power if they converte to Islam.
• They showed tolerance towars Christians and Jews

OTHER ISSUES

ISLAM: SOCIETY AND CULTURE

2.- Social Groups

1.- The empire was hughe, so society was very diverse.

2.a.- The Landowning Aristocracy: - They controlled politics, agriculture and trade. - At the top of the hiuerarchy, families of Arab origin (thel held the main political positions. - Bellow them: important families from the conquered land that had converted to Islam.

1a.- Ethnicities: Arabs, Berbers, slaves, peoples from the conquered lands

1b.- Religions: Muslims, Christians, Jews

2.c.- At the bottom of society: - Slaves. They wwere from Turkish, Slav or African origin. - They could gain freedom if they converted to Islam

2.b.- The next froup: - Traders, Artisans, landowning farmer. - This group included the DHIMMI

MUSLIMS RELIGION

ISLAM means Submission. Its holy book is the Koran, containing 114 surahs (chapters) in arabic

The Koran contains The Five Pillars of Islam:

1. Belief in a single God, Allah, and his profet Muhammad.
2. Praying 5 times a day facing the East (Mecca)
3. Giving charity to the poor.
4. Fasting (not eating) during the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Going on a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a live.

Other important rules are

• The prohibition of drinking alcohol
• Gambling
• Ceratain food (such as pork)
• Representing images of Allah or Muhammad

THE ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-1258 A.D.)

1.-The Abbasid Dynasty ruled after having assassinated the Umayyads

2.- They controlled the whole of the Empire, but for Al-andalus, that remained under the control of the only surviving prince of the Umayyads dynasty.

3.- The Abbasid moved the capital to Baghdad (Irak)

5.- In the 10th century it began to decline, and finally came to an end with the invasion of the Mongols that conquered and destroyed Baghdad. (1258 A.D.)

4.- During this period the Empire reached the height of its power.

2.- The MEDINA was the walled center. It contained

2.a.- RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS

2.b.- MILITARY BUILDINGS

2.d.- RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

1.- Commercial prosperity transformed cities that turned to be Administrative, Economic and Political centres.

2.c.- CIVIL CONSTRUCTIONS

3.- Streets were narrow, and the layout was irregular.

HOW PEOPLE LIVED IN MUSLIM CITIES

4.- Sewerage systems resulted in better health and as a result, an increase in population

5.- The ARRABALES were walled neighbourhoods outside the Medina. They houses some activities, as Tanning

6.- Cenmenteries were placen out of the Medina, in the Arrabales

THE ORTHODOX CALIPHATE

1.- At first, the CALIPH ruled the Muslim Empire form Medina.

2.- The first four Caliphs were Muhammad's successors.

3.- They defeated:a.- The Byzantine Empire b.- The Neo-Persian Empire

4.- They spread Islam to

• Egypt
• Palestine
• Syria
• Mesopotamia
• Persian

1.- There were three social groups.:

1. The BASILEUS: the most powerful group.
1. Below him : the landowning high clery and the nobility
2. The Artisans, traders, soldiers, free farmers.
3. At the bottom: serfs and slaves

SOCIETY

An important characteristic of Society was the division between:

• The landowning nobility
• The poor farmers

The survival of CITIES was very important both for the Economy and for Society.

• Trade: didn't stop.
• City live:was very busy.
• There were shows and great monuments.
• Cities had infraestructure for trade and defences.

As a result of hight taxes imposed on the population to stand the army and officials, there were frequent revolts.

THE UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750 A.D.)

1.- The Umayyads rose to the throne after the assassination of the fourth caliph

2.- They made important changes:a.- They moved the capital to Damascus (Syria) b.- They divided their lands into Emirates, provinces under the control of a governor (political authority)

4.- Their expansion was contained by:a.- The Byzantines in Constantinople (718 A.D.) b.- The Franks at Poitiers (732 A.D.)These two battles prevented the Caliphate from a further expansion

3.- They extended the Empire from India to the Iberian Peninsula

MAIN MUSLIMS BUILDINGS

a.- Mosques are the main religious building. The most famous ones were in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Kairouan, Corduba

b.- They also built magnificent palaces, such as the Umayyad Palace in Damascus, or La Alhambra in Granada and La Aljafería in Zaragoza.

C.- In late centuries they also built MAUSOLEUMS as : - Timur in Samarkanda - Taj-Mahal in Agra, India