HIST 2890 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Turkey, Taqlid, Ijtihad

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: History
• Course: HIST 2890
• Professor: Jooseop Lim

Document Summary

Transmission of islamic knowledge: politics, administration, culture, islamic law: Arabic is now the language of commerce and administration: everybody had to learn it, knowing arabic (and greek/syriac/persian) would be helpful. Trade was oriented across the asian world: muslim vessels in the southern seas made their way to china. By the end of the umayyad caliph: there was a new sort of arabic language that was evolving here as the umayyad government used arabic in its administration, arabic is really flourishing as a new language. Letter of praise for caliph and propaganda for the umayyad caliphs. Justify theory of caliphate as god"s will: emphasized that god ordained the caliph to rule. Those who write these letters are the eyes and ears of the caliph: promoted the caliph rules, makes sure taxation runs smoothly, making sure that people know that if you oppose the caliph, you"re opposing. Benevolent absolutism vs. islamic egalitarianism: god ordained vs. everybody is equal (muhammad)