Notes on the Lecture about the End of the Umayyad State and the Beginning of the Abbasid State

The End of the Umayyad State

• The Umayyad state ended due to weak rulers and internal divisions.
• The Umayyad court suffered from disruptions and conflicts.
• The figure of Abu Muslim al-Khurasani was pivotal in the movements against the Umayyads.

The Beginning of the Abbasid State

• Abu Muslim al-Khurasani, after his release from prison, contributed to the establishment of the Abbasid state and called for the overthrow of the Umayyads.
• The Abbasids began to gain control over areas not under Umayyad rule, including Kufa.

Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah

• Abu al-Abbas Abdullah bin Muhammad was the first Abbasid Caliph, delivering a speech in Kufa announcing the establishment of the Abbasid state.
• He called for the restoration of Abbasid rights and their exclusive right to the caliphate.

Confrontations with the Umayyad State

• The Abbasid army, led by Abu Muslim al-Khurasani, outperformed the Umayyad army composed of 100,000 fighters.
• Marwan al-Umayyad was defeated at the Battle of the Great Zab and attempted to flee to Gaza.
• The Abbasids pursued the Umayyads until the fall of Damascus and Palestine.

Abbasid Suppression

• A large number of Umayyads and their princes were killed in the Abbasids’ attempts to consolidate their rule.
• Abdullah bin Ali al-Abbasi slaughtered Umayyad princes after inviting them for reconciliation.

Stability under Abbasid Rule

• During the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Palestine witnessed relative tranquility.
• Multiple local revolts occurred against the Abbasids, including the revolt of Saif bin Bakr.

Transformations in Palestine

• Palestine came under Abbasid rule after bloody conflicts.
• Abbasid policy in Palestine relied on frequently changing governors.
• The use of Persians and non-Arabs by the Abbasids weakened Arab influence.

Revolts against the Abbasids

• The revolt of Habib bin Murra during the reign of al-Saffah, and other revolts during the reign of al-Mansur.
• The gap between Abbasids and Arabs exacerbated crises in the Levant and Palestine.

Effects of Abbasid Rule on Palestine

• Abbasid rule in Palestine was characterized by suppression and bloodshed, with a strong reliance on foreign elements.
• The Abbasids faced resistance from Arab tribes that rejected foreign dominance.