Lecture on Dar al-Islam

Introduction

• Dar al-Islam translates to the "house of Islam," signifying regions where Islam was the majority religion around 1200.
• Interaction among the major monotheistic religions during this period: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism

• Originated in the Middle East.
• Monotheistic, worshiping one God.
• Foundation for Christianity and Islam.

Christianity

• Established by Jesus Christ, a Jewish prophet.
• Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.
• Spread of Christianity after Jesus' crucifixion.
• Eventually became the state religion of the Roman Empire.
• Influenced social and political structures in Europe and Africa.

Islam

• Founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Muhammad is considered the final prophet.
• Core teachings included righteous actions, alms giving, prayer, and fasting.
• Islam expanded rapidly post-632, influencing the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South Asia.

Economic Influence

• Islam facilitated trade throughout Afro-Eurasia.
• Muhammad's background as a merchant influenced Islamic economic practices.
• Islamic states were generally more prosperous than Christian ones prior to 1200.

Rise of Islamic Empires

• Abbasid Caliphate:
  • Founded in the 8th century, during the Golden Age of Islam.
  • Known for advancements in science, mathematics, literature, and technology.
  • Began to decline before 1200, giving rise to new Islamic Empires.
• Turkic Empires:
  • Post-Abbasid, new empires were largely Turkic rather than Arab.
  • Example Empires:
    • Seljuk Empire: Established in the 11th century, gained power from the Abbasids.
    • Mamluk Sultanate: In Egypt, seized power from the Ayubid Sultanate.
    • Delhi Sultanate: Established in South Asia by invading Turks.

Expansion of Islam

• Methods of Expansion:
  • Military conquest: Example - Delhi Sultanate.
  • Trade: Encouraged by Muslim rule, such as in North Africa and Mali's conversion.
  • Missionary work: Especially by Sufi missionaries who focused on mystical experiences.

Intellectual Contributions

• Innovations:
  • Nasir al-Din al-Tusi developed trigonometry to understand celestial movements.
  • Contributed to the later heliocentric theory.
• House of Wisdom in Baghdad:
  • A center for learning and preservation of Greek philosophical works.
  • Translations and commentaries on texts by Plato and Aristotle.
  • Influenced the European Renaissance.

Conclusion

• The lecture concludes with links to additional resources on Unit 1 and video note guides.
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and cultural developments in Dar al-Islam.