Spread of Islam in the Post Classical Period Essay Example for Free

Spread of Islam in the Post Classical Period Essay The Sassanid Empire served as the revival of the Persian Empire from 244-651 C.E., Persian traditions had endured during this time period and kinships as well as Zoroastrian religion were part of their everyday life. Bedouin or nomadic societies inhabited the Arabian Peninsula as well, with a culture based on goat and camel herding. However, life styles and interactions changed with the introduction of Islam in the Post Classical period. In the 7th century Islam began a series of conquest and conversions, making their potential to become the first truly global civilization unstoppable. Once the Muslim raids began in India in 711 C.E. Islam’s influence changed the Hindu way of life and cultural unity between these and other civilizations began. The introduction of Islam to the Middle East and India from 622-1450 C.E. brought cultural, political, and economic continuities and changes to these societies. Cultural and economic continuities included architecture and the growth of a strong trading system; however, there were changes in political systems from kinships and Persian influence to religious based kingdoms and rulers. Cultural unity became one of the leading characteristics of the Empire. Architecture was one of the ideas that spread throughout the continents as well. Not only did it reach India and Africa, but the European continent as well. The mosque is a place of worship for those who follow the Islam faith. The first mosque to be built was the Quba Mosque in Medina, which was built when Muhammad arrived from the hijra back in 630 C.E. After the construction of the first mosque the idea of a place for worship spread. The first mosques had dome shaped roofs and minarets to call people for prayer. As these ideas spread they became continuous in different societies as they adopted the same architectural techniques. As Islam spread, and architecture spread with it the idea of the mosque, a place for worship, and full devotion to Allah remained throughout its history. India adapted many of the Islam-Persian ideas for construction such as domes and minarets. The idea of the mosque is prolonged until this day. However, within this continuity changes arose. India and the Middle East were located in nearly the same region and shared a common climate. Their architectural ideas didn’t differ to extremes. What did affect their differences was their idea of beauty and the materials available to them at that time. Both civilizations developed nearly isolated from each other until the first raids in 711 C.E. and the formal establishment of a political Islamic power in India on 1206 C.E. By that time each of them had developed their own concept of beauty, which they introduced to architectural designs. For a long period of time Hindus had used wood as their primary material in construction, and had learned to modify it and use it to their taste. When this material became scarce they started using brick or stone like the Arabs. Both civilizations used the same materials, but Hindus managed stone differently since they brought many of the ide as and techniques they used with wood to this material. Nevertheless, a mosque can be clearly recognized in most societies, and although cultures introduced their concept of beauty into it, the idea of a place of worship to Allah was and still is continuous. Trade, no matter where and when, has always been an economic continuity throughout history. Dar al- Islam referred to the freedom to practice the religion in different places. As the religion spread, Dar al- Islam became more prominent among societies. Religious beliefs arrived at different civilizations and were soon adopted by them. Trade had been seen before in civilizations, however with Islamic conquests it flourished. In Bedouin society tribes and towns traded with each other on a small scale. With the introduction of Islam landmasses were linked by important trade routes like: the Silk Road, the Trans- Saharan trade, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The Middle East was in the middle of this trading business and so it benefited from this constant interaction. For the Post Classical part of its history, the Middle East controlled much of India’s trade with other civilizations. As trade flourished, new demands for materials took place. Although trade was sustained throughout history and it became a continuity in every society, during this time period some of the ways it was used and some of the demands for materials changed. In the Indian Ocean trade grew bigger each time, and demands for silk, porcelain, spices, gems, cotton, horses, and even slaves increased. Changes in the demand for goods reflected in the prosperity of the civilizations. Now, people mainly traded luxurious, and beautiful objects, which they couldn’t find where they lived but were not really essential for their survival. The materials they traded may have changed, but trade flourished during these years making many economies dependent to its growth. Many changes were seen once the Muslims adjusted the Persian society to a religious based empire. Politically, many traditions and cultural influences from the Persians changed during the early development of Islam. The Middle East was a mix between nomads, Kingdoms, and empires ending with the Sassanid Empire in 651 C.E., Past societies used kinships to choose their rulers, unlike Islamic ones who used religious leaders as successors of Muhammad. The same happened with India, which was a Hindu society ruled by the caste-system. The religion did influence the civilization politically if we take the caste system into account, but aside from that no Hindu beliefs and traditions were used in the government. Islam changed this idea completely. The religion believed in a government fully merged with Islamic beliefs. The Zakat, for example, was a tax for charity obligatory for the new faith, the places under Islamic control most be involved in paying this tax. Islam caused unity as well, warriors and leaders were given a common cause and strength to glorify their new religion, and so this encouraged them to spread to other regions. Jihads, which were holy wars, took place, all because of the words of Allah in the Qur’an. Everything being done was influence by the word of Allah. Sharia, which is the moral codes and laws of Islam, became the fundamental set of laws to follow. This set of moral codes and laws are derived from the Qur’an, showing its strong influence in politics from the reign of Muhammad to today. India was influenced by all these changes as well, which in a way mixed with Hinduism. The idea that men and women both could reach heaven promoted equality, and it was something that the Hindus adopted from the religion. However, the Arabs also adopted some of the Hindus ideas like the veil and harem, which still placed women as inferiors and submissive. Historically, Arab culture did not show this type of behavior towards women. In fact, Muhammad’s first wife Khadija was actually of great importance in Islamic religion, often referred to as â€Å"mother of Islam† and being the first real adherent of Islam. Khadija was given great value and respect among with other women who became adherents afterward. After this huge change however, Islamic politics became continuity throughout the whole Post Classical Period and even to present day. An Islamic based government was soon incorporated into their culture and became normal from there on. With the introduction of religion to the government a significant change was made from Persian culture to Islamic beliefs, after the fall of the Sassanid Empire, however once this change was made it became perpetual to the society. The Post Classical period, raging from 622-1450 C.E., was a period of change and continuous growth. Islam became the first global society in history, extending its territory and providing similar cultural aspects like architecture and economic aspects like trading to different societies. Political changes were prominent in this era, and they changed the way civilizations under Islamic power functioned, from kinships and clan leaders to religious based empires. Islam had a rapid growth and with the growth of Dar Al-Islam, the religion was able to spread to different continents and change past traditions, but at the same time integrate with local traditions and create a lasting influence in various societies.