Lecture Notes: Dar al-Islam and Major Monotheistic Religions

Overview of Dar al-Islam

• Translates to "the house of Islam"
• Refers to regions where Islam was the majority religion around 1200
• Described as a large region by historians

Major Monotheistic Religions

1. Judaism

   • Ethnic religion of the Jews
   • Originated in the Middle East
   • Monotheistic: worship of one God
   • Foundation for Christianity and Islam

2. Christianity

   • Established by Jesus Christ, a Jewish prophet
   • Jesus claimed to be the Messiah
   • Spread by followers after Jesus' crucifixion
   • Became the official religion of the Roman Empire
   • Influenced European and African societies with its hierarchy

3. Islam

   • Founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century in Arabia
   • Muhammad: the final prophet in the line of Jewish and Christian messengers
   • Emphasized righteous actions for salvation
   • Rapid spread post-Muhammad's death: Middle East, Africa, Europe, South Asia
   • Trading vital in the spread of Islam

Impact of Islam on Societies

• Facilitated trade throughout Afro-Eurasia
• Enabled the rise of large empires, notably the Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasid Caliphate

• Established in the 8th century
• Known as the Golden Age of Islam — advancements in science, mathematics, literature, technology
• By 1200, the Abbasid Empire was declining
• Replaced the Umayyad Caliphate after conflict
• Known for a violent overthrow of the Umayyads

Rise of New Islamic Empires

• Post-Abbasid decline, new Turkic Islamic Empires emerged

Key Turkic Empires:

1. Seljuk Empire

   • Established in the 11th century in Central Asia
   • Originally military force for the Abbasids
   • Gained political power by the 1200s

2. Mamluk Sultanate

   • Established in Egypt
   • Originally enslaved Turkic warriors took over after Saladin's death

3. Delhi Sultanate

   • Established in South Asia
   • Ruled for about 300 years

Characteristics of Turkic Empires

• Military was central to administration
• Implemented Sharia law

Spread of Islam

1. Military Expansion
   • Examples: Delhi Sultanate
2. Merchant Activity (Trade)
   • Example: Mali Empire converted for trade benefits
3. Missionary Work
   • Sufi missionaries promoted Islam through mystical experiences

Intellectual Achievements in Dar al-Islam

• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

  • Developed trigonometry for astronomy
  • Influenced later scientific theories (e.g., Copernicus)

• House of Wisdom in Baghdad

  • Library and center for learning
  • Preserved Greek philosophical works
  • Translations important for European Renaissance

Conclusion

• Dar al-Islam saw significant religious, cultural, and scientific advancements
• Turkic empires shifted power dynamics from Arab to Turkic control
• The intellectual and cultural contributions of this era had lasting impacts on the world