The Tribe has always been an important concept in Arabian and Islamic history, creating divisions among its dwellers and followers. How has this caused problems in the history of Islam?
There have been many problems because of the tribes in the history of Islam. The first problems arose at the beginning of the religion when Mohammed was gaining followers, and these tribal tensions arose when picking a new leader or making a decision.
Mohammed was the first muslim to deal with tribal problems. When he was rising, the tribes saw this as a threat to their leadership and tried to kill him and his followers many times. The tribes in his time also created problems in early Islam by kicking his followers out of their tribe, so that they would get no protection. When Mohammed died and Abu Bakr was named the new caliph, it stirred up dormant trouble. The first issue was that the Medinians and Meccans argued about who was to become the new caliph and the second problem was that tribes which were unified under Mohammed tried to break off under the new government.
The next trial was the naming of the succesor of 'Umar. The council that named the next caliph was made up of only men from the tribe of Quraysh, while the Medinians where shut off from power. Also, the two candidates for the next caliph were of two different tribes. When the less popular one was named, small cracks started to form in Islam's unity. This one was killed and the other one was named, but tribe member of the former rose up against the latter, and started the Umayyad empire.
One of the Umayyad caliphs, Yazid, started a second civil war with the followers of the descendants of 'Ali, and was killed in the battle. Afterwords, two rival tribes, Qays and the Kalb fought for the next caliph. When the Umayyad caliphate ended a new one started, the 'Abassid caliphate, which where descendants of the uncle of Muhammed. Many people in the Abassid caliphate were muslims, but not members of a tribe and so were treated as second class citizens.
All of these together, caused large problems for the religion of Islam, and the governments over time. These were problems that never stopped. They started in Muhammed's time and still go through today where there are still different factions of Islam, all based off of their ancestor's tribe.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Blog #9
How has the religious history of India influenced India’s tradition of non-violence?
I think that the religions that began in India impacted India's non-violence. Both major religions, for the most part preach peace and that definately affects the government because in many cases the government and the religions were very intertwined. Throughout history Buddhism and Hinduism have been trying to get more followers, but rather than forced conversions or killing, these religions would convert peacefully. They would atract followers by persuasion or perceived rights, then they would become lax and the other religion would grow back. This would be mirrored in the governments which pretty much allowed freedom of religion and held the reigns very loosely.
I think that the religions that began in India impacted India's non-violence. Both major religions, for the most part preach peace and that definately affects the government because in many cases the government and the religions were very intertwined. Throughout history Buddhism and Hinduism have been trying to get more followers, but rather than forced conversions or killing, these religions would convert peacefully. They would atract followers by persuasion or perceived rights, then they would become lax and the other religion would grow back. This would be mirrored in the governments which pretty much allowed freedom of religion and held the reigns very loosely.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Blog #8
Can migration have a positive impact on the native people of the land?
Migration can have a positive impact on the native people through exchange of ideas, beliefs and culture. Migrating people bring with them their culture and god(s). The native people would presumably have one culture while the newcomers would have another, but blended together this big culture could not only make everyone happy, but also unify the country. This is shown in the United States' culture, when migrating people like the irish or jews became assimilated into the culture, but added an extra flavor of their own. When a migrating people bring a religion, it will sometimes spark conflict, but sometimes it will challenge and push the people. If their is no competition, then there is no strive forward. Another thing the migration would bring are an expanded work force and new innovations. The new people might have technology that, when combined with the native's knowledge would make new, better inventions. Also, with more migrators there are more people, creating a larger base of people to tax as well as the ability to expand militarily. All in all, though unusual, a migration could actually be a very good thing for everyone involved.
Migration can have a positive impact on the native people through exchange of ideas, beliefs and culture. Migrating people bring with them their culture and god(s). The native people would presumably have one culture while the newcomers would have another, but blended together this big culture could not only make everyone happy, but also unify the country. This is shown in the United States' culture, when migrating people like the irish or jews became assimilated into the culture, but added an extra flavor of their own. When a migrating people bring a religion, it will sometimes spark conflict, but sometimes it will challenge and push the people. If their is no competition, then there is no strive forward. Another thing the migration would bring are an expanded work force and new innovations. The new people might have technology that, when combined with the native's knowledge would make new, better inventions. Also, with more migrators there are more people, creating a larger base of people to tax as well as the ability to expand militarily. All in all, though unusual, a migration could actually be a very good thing for everyone involved.
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