RAC: Lesson - Islam: Dynasties

Islam: Dynasties

The Umayyad Dynasty

Muawiya’s leadership began the Umayyad Dynasty in Dar al-Islam. Remember, his leadership also began the Sunni denomination of Islam, which marginalized the Shi’a Muslims. Importantly, the Umayyad dynasty continued the spread of Dar al-Islam (the Islamic state) and highlighted cities that were sidelined by the Romans, Byzantines, and Persians. Initially, other monotheistic religions (Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians) were tolerated, but polytheistic religions were not. Therefore, many of the conquered polytheistic people converted to Islam, and Islam became the dominant religion.

A map of the Ummayad Dynasty. Cities included: Cordoba, Kairouan, Fustat, Damscus, Kura, Isfahan, Medina and Mecca.

However, Arabic eventually became the official language of the Empire, and laws were enacted separating Arabs from non-Arabs. This was not well received, and resentment grew among the locals, especially those who had converted. So, even though Dar al-Islam, and several cities, flourished under the Umayyad Dynasty, in 750, the last Umayyad leader fled to Spain to escape the anger of non-Arab and Shi’a Muslims.

The Abbasid Dynasty and The Golden Age of Islam

A map showing the Abbasid Dynasty at its height.

The Abbasid Dynasty took over the Dar al-Islam (except in Córdoba, Spain - see the map above) and ushered in a golden age for the Islamic World that lasted for centuries.

Learn more in the activity below.

Decline and Separation

Despite all these accomplishments though, the Abbasid Dynasty (or Caliphate) ran into similar problems as the Umayyad Dynasty and even the Roman Empire. An empire so large led to internal struggles between the people and the government. In this case, the Berbers of North Africa established their own Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt and a semi-autonomous Almoravid Dynasty in Morocco. Additionally, The Turks stopped paying tribute to the Abbasid caliphs and eventually revolted against Abbasid rule. Finally, the theological gulf between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims expanded into arguments over Sharia (Islamic law,) the Hadith (a collection of Muhammad's sayings that influenced daily life almost as much as the Qur'an), and other theological tenets that affected both the practice of Islam and the governing of the Islamic World.

The result of all this strife was the fracturing of the Dar al-Islam. By the beginning of the 13th Century, the Islamic World existed as three distinct regions:

  • The West (North Africa): Arabs ruled with Berber influence
  • The Core (Egypt, Syria, and Arabian Peninsula): Military men of non-Arab origin ruled
  • The East (Central Asia and Iran): The Abbasid Dynasty deferred to Turkish military commanders

However, it was not this internal fracturing that brought an end to the Abbasid Dynasty. Instead, the source of its demise came from outside of the Dar al-Islam in the form of Mongols!

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