POLI 340 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Eastern Question, Janissaries, Guerrilla Warfare
21 Dec 2016
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Lecture notes - historical context islamic, ottoman, and colonial legacies. Muhammad born in 580 ce in mecca; muslims believe that he was commanded by the angel. Islam = monotheistic theology: emphasis on social reform -> justice, community, spiritual equality of believers, social reasonability. Ended infanticide and improved status of women during its early growth: religious practice based on the five pillars of islam) Success due to being the language of the koran (translations as a distortion of the word of god); results in minimal evolution of arab as a written language. Christians/jews (monotheistic people of the book") regarded as second-class citizens but still recognized; conversions to islam due to tax benefits. Institutionalized religious pluralism; high level of conversion to islam. Problem of political authority -> no clear rules for succession or form of islamic government: struggle over leadership and organization of the umma, leadership struggle leads to sunni-shiite split.
