A FourWay Comparison India Anatolia West Africa and Spain Background Arab empire had all but disintegrated politically by the tenth century Last Abbasid caliph killed when Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258 ID: 274466
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Islam and Cultural Encounters" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Islam and Cultural Encounters
A Four-Way Comparison
India, Anatolia, West Africa, and SpainSlide2
Background…
Arab empire had all but disintegrated politically by the tenth century
Last Abbasid caliph killed when Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258
But Islamic civilization continued to flourish and expandSlide3
Case of India…
Turkic speaking invaders brought Islam to India
Establishment of Turkic and Muslim regimes in India beginning ca. 1000
At first violent destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples
Sultanate of Delhi (founded 1206) became more systematic
Emergence of Muslim communities in India
Buddhists and low-caste Hindus found Islam attractive
Newly agrarian people also liked Islam
Subjects of Muslim rulers converted lightened tax burden
Sufis fit mold of Indian holy men, encouraged conversion-developed “popular Islam” with Hind overlap
At height, 20-25% of Indian population converted to Islam
Muslim communities concentrated in NW and Eastern India
Deep Muslim/Hindu cultural divideSlide4
More India…
e. Monotheism vs. polytheism
f. equality of believers vs. caste system
g. sexual modesty vs. open eroticism
Interaction of Hindus and MuslimsMany Hindus served Muslim rulersMystics blurred the line between two religionsSikhism developed in early 16th century; syncretic religion with elements of both Islam and HinduismFounded by Guru NanakMuslims remained as a distinctive minoritySlide5
Islam in numbers…Slide6
Case of Anatolia (Turkey)
Turks invaded Anatolia about the same time as India
Major destruction at early stages in both places
Sufi missionaries were important in both places
But in Anatolia by 1500, 90% of population was Muslim, and most spoke Turkish
Reasons for the different results in two regions
Anatolia had a much smaller population *8 million vs. 48 million in India)
Far more Turkic speakers settled in AnatoliaMuch deeper destruction of Byzantine society in AnatoliaActive discrimination against Christians in Anatolia India’s decentralized politics and religion could absorb the shock of invasion better
Turkish rulers of Anatolia welcomed converts; fewer social barriers to conversion
Sufis replaced Christian institutions in Anatolia Slide7
More Anatolia…
3. By 1500, the Ottoman Empire was the most powerful Islamic state
4. Turks of Anatolia retained much of their culture after conversion
freer life for women persistedSlide8
Case of West Africa…
Islam came peacefully with traders, not conquest
In WA, Islam spread mostly to URBAN areas
Provided links to Muslim trading partners
Provided literate officials and religious legitimacy to state
By the 16
th
century, several WA cities were Islamic centersTimbuktu had over 150 Quranic schools and several centers of higher educationLibraries had tens of thousands of booksRulers subsidized building of major mosquesArabic became a language of religion, administration, educations, and trade
Did not have significant Arab immigration
Sufis played little role until 18
th
century
No significant spread into countryside until 19
th
century
Rulers made little effort to impose Islam or rule by Islamic lawSlide9Slide10Slide11Slide12Slide13
Timbuktu, Mali…Mosque at JenneSlide14Slide15Slide16
Case for Spain…
Arab and Berber forces conquered most of Spain (al-
Andalus
) in the early 8
th
century
Islam did not overwhelm Christianity there
High degree of interaction Between Muslims, Christians, and JewsSome Christians converted to IslamSome Christians Mozarabs adopted Arabic culture but not religionReligious toleration started to breakdown by late 10th centuryIncreasing war with Christian states of northern SpainMore puritanical forms of Islam entered Spain form North Africa
In Muslim-ruled regions, increasing limitations placed on Christians
Many Muslims were forced out of Christian conquered regions or kept public practice of their faith
Completion of
reconquest
in 1492
200,000 Jews expelled from SpainSlide17
Mosque at Cordoba, SpainSlide18Slide19