Golden Age of Islam

Question #3 for the HIST 18 midterm exam is:

3. The Golden Age of Islam, during the reign of the Abbasids, was one of the greatest periods of creativity and discovery in all of Islamic history. What were the major accomplishments of the Golden Age, and how did the Abbasids contribute to the glory of the time?

The Golden Age of Islam is probably understood by many as meaning various different things. To tie it specifically to the era of the Abbasid dynasty, then, gives us a good foundation, for we know that the Abbasids ruled from 750-1258. Then again, that era covers many sub-periods, and the rule of the Abbasids fluctuated in both time and place during that span. So, we'll have to be satisfied with giving a generic, "general", response to the question. What happened in Islamic history between 750-1258 that can characterize it as a "Golden Age"? And what role did the Abbasids play? Such are the stipulations with which we'll approach this question.
Written 7:31 pm, 10/30/06

6:45am on Saturday, 11/04/06 - I'll continue my investigation of the Abbasids.

The Abbasids arose following the revolt of Abu Muslim in 747 in Khurasan, in what's now part of eastern Iran. Abu Muslim, says Bernard Lewis on page 75 of The Middle East - a Brief History of the Last 2,000 years, was a manumitted Persian slave, and leader of a militant sect that had already been active for almost 30 years in this outlying province. He and his people were outraged at the excesses and impiousness of the Umayyads, and at the unsolved murder of Caliph Abbas, murdered in xxx by, it was believed, supporters of Ali. According to Arabic tribal customs, the assasination of al-Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet, needed to be avenged.

Furthermore, the local population of Iranian Muslims was upset with the inequalities they suffered as a result of being non-Arabic, and/or Persian converts. Islam was accepting of all into the community of Allah, but at this point in Islamic history, the economic and social benefits of being a Muslim were not equal for all. The practice of requiring non-Muslims to pay taxes that were not required of ethnic Arabs, among other things, was unacceptable now that so many non-Arabs had become Muslim. They wanted ALL the rights of being a Muslim, and the population, especially here in Kurastan, had shifted significantly. Here, a rising proportion of Muslims were either Persian converts, on partial-Arab members who wanted full participation in the Muslim community. The disputes among Muslims was degenerating into inter-tribal warfare, and Abu Muslim was able to unite the dissidents and direct their energies with new focus.

Abu Muslim and his Shi'ite followers brought not just a change in dynasty. The cnage in leadership was, Lewis asserts, a revolution which marked a turning point in Islamic history. For the first time, a non-Arab claimed leadership of the Muslim community - and, he won acceptance FROM the community. From this point on, the mark of membership in the community of Islam was the religion, and not the race. And from this point on, non-Arabs and half-Arabs were increasingly prominent in the institutions of Islam.

The Abbasids consolitdated their power, early on, by recognizing and absorbing the Persian administrative elements into their regime. The Persians were already experienced in the mechanics of governing, and had already been employed by the Arabs. Now, with this political change, they were able to earn the economic and social benefits that befit their abilities. And increasingly, they converted to Islam as they were now able to rise in the ranks of the administration.

The Arabs lost the exclusive right to the fruits of power. However, they did not lose their place in the Empire. This did not happen, Lewis reminds us, until the Turks took control (when was this? which Turks?). This was not an overthrow of Arabs by Persians; if anything, it was a revolt against the predominance of Syrian Arabs, but more than that it was a revolt against the laxity and the impiety of the Umayyads, a dynasty that had outgrown its origins. The Shi'ite dissidents wanted a return of Islam to its origins, and an equtable sharing of power.

How ironic, then, that the ones who overthrew the Umayyads lasted so short a time. On page 77, Lewis says: "The 'Abbasids, like others before and after them who attained power by means of a revolutionary movewment, were soon forced to choose between the tenets and objectives of their supporters on the one hand and the needs of government and empire on the other. They chose consensus and continuity, and had to meet and suppress the angry resentment of some of their more consequent followers. Aub Muslim himself, the architect of 'Abbasid victory, was put to death, as were several of his associates."

The first 'Abbasid caliph, al-Suffah, was followed by his brother, al-Mansur (954-775), and it is this man, not Abu Muslim, who is credited with being the founder of 'Abbasid greatness (p. 76).

Well, that's all for now. I'll take a break, and also check some of my facts!

8am, 11/04/06 - article is re-posted