Origins of Islamic Civilization [contested term]Brief history of “Civilization”, 1Brief history of “Civilization”, 2Brief history of “Civilization”, 3Aims of Egger’s book [preface]Formative period, 610-950The Middle East in the sixth century CESouthwestern Asia in the seventh century: Byzantine EmpireSasanian Empire (226-642 CE)Imperial Persia: CtesiphonImperial Persian: PersepolisCapture of Roman Emperor Valerian by Sasanian (Persian) Emperor ShapurIrano-Semitic culture and rise of ArabsThe Arabian PeninsulaChanges in the Arabian PeninsulaThe Rise of Islam -- MeccaText, Page 28: the Death of the ProphetOrigins of Islamic Civilization[contested term]Reli 180Introduction to Islamic Civilization2Brief history of “Civilization”, 1Aristotle on development of life in citiesAl-Farabi (d. 950) calls this tamaddun ند متتتت , from “city” (madina ةنيدم )Ibn Khaldun (d. 1382) refers to urban or sedentary life as hadara ةراضح and opposes it to nomadic life in the desert (badawa ةوا دتتتب ), as the two main forms of human society (`umran نارمع )3Brief history of “Civilization”, 2Dr. Samuel Johnson rejects the term “civilization” from his dictionary (1775)French and English authors nevertheless start using the term around 1790Denotes only European countries as opposed to barbarians of Asia, Africa, AmericaJustification for colonialism (French “mission civilizatrice” or civilizing mission)4Brief history of “Civilization”, 3Samuel Huntington (quoting Bernard Lewis) in 1993/96 writes on Clash of Civilizations in post-Soviet contextPresident Khatami of Iran proposes “dialogue of civilizations” (guft-o-guy tamaddoni یند متتتت یتتوتتگ وتتتقتتگ ) in 1996; adopted as theme by UN in 2001Aims of Egger’s book [preface]“the tension between adherence to tradition on the one hand and adaptation to changing conditions of the other” (xii)“intellectual and political development receive more attention than social and economic history”Stages in historical development, varieties of expression of Islam“Muslim political unity was shattered”5Formative period, 610-950Continuity of Islamic identity in the absence of central religious authorityConsequent religious differences among Muslims“Arab Empire” – why not “Muslim”?Continuities with Roman (Byzantine) and Persian empires6The Middle East in the sixth century CE7Southwestern Asia in the seventh century: Byzantine EmpireHellenistic [Greek-ish] civilization after Alexander – dominance of Greek languageresentment of Byzantine dominance, religious dissent by non-OrthodoxVarious Christians -- Monophysites: Coptic (Egypt), Jacobites (Syria), Armenians; Nestorians; OrthodoxArabs in the Byzantine world: Palmyra, Ghassanid kingdom8Sasanian Empire (226-642 CE)Desert surrounded by mountainsAgricultural valleys of Central Asia (Transoxiana, “beyond the Oxus”)Dense population South of the CaspianReligious ideas of Zoroastrianism: Resurrection, judgment, heaven and hell, Satan, Messiah (adopted byJews)Large Christian and Jewish communities in Persia (Iran)9Imperial Persia: Ctesiphon10Imperial Persian: Persepolis11Capture of Roman Emperor Valerian by Sasanian (Persian) Emperor Shapur12Irano-Semitic culture and rise of ArabsNabateans (Hellenized Arabs) engaged with Greeks, Hebrews, RomansAcademy of science and philosophy at JundishapurArabs in Iraq (Christian), client Lakhmid kingdom with poetic traditionExhaustion of Byzantine and Persian empires13The Arabian PeninsulaSouth: Yemen, luxury trade; oasesNorth: Petra, capital of the Nabateans14Marib DamPetraChanges in the Arabian PeninsulaDomestication of the camel, 500-100 BCENomads and semi-nomads, tribal societyRelations with Ethiopia (Axum)Jewish rule in Yemen, Christian invasionIslamic period: Arabs as nomadic groups outside the cities, strong sense of tribal genealogy•modern times: nationalistic concept of Arabs as anyone speaking Arabic15The Rise of Islam -- MeccaRegional tradeReligious background: monotheistic “hanifs”, Jews and Christians [Allah]Emphasis on God’s unity, “conscientious use of wealth”Opposition of Meccan pagansShift to Medina in 622 (beginning of Islamic era)The economy of raiding16Text, Page 28: the Death of the ProphetCreation of a polity in Arabia as a substitute for tribal membershipIdeal of ultimate loyalty to God rather than one’s tribe (a tension never resolved)Question: what are the continuities with the past in the new Arab