The Umayyad Caliphate Essay, Research Paper

THE SUFYANIND CALIPHS ? MU?AWIYA

AND HIS FAMILY 661 ? 684 Greatest achievement to ensure, despite protests

policies caused opp. From people who resented government and his power,

Muslim world untied enough to resist attacks to enemies. Used Syrian army, paid off, not for internal

disputes but for instrument to attack Byzantines. Used system of trading agreements rather than

absolutist model of Byzantine or Talib religious model. Tensions between Iraq and Syria and internally in

Iraq. Mu?awaiya managed Iraq and east through use Thaqafi

mafia Inner circle of advisors to help govern Syrius ?

Syrian army kept busy by attacking the Byzantine Empire ? Rhodes taken in

672, Crete in 674 0 during last seven years of Mu?awiya reign, caliph?s

son Yazid led continuous attacks on Constantinople itself. 674-80 ? mostly

raids and islands were sued for tribute rather than colonisation- Arabs of

Jazira led similar expeditions into Armenia ? but no permanent settlement. Motives for war were to provide Syria with military

experience and financial rewards rather than to cope with over-population

0 Mu?awiyta managed Syrians with consummate skill and loyalty was famous ?

only after death did serious divisions begin to appear. Egypt as virtual annexe to Syria ? settlement

limited to Alexandria and Fustat.?

Mu?awaiya caliphate decentralised politically and administratively

? continued tradition of previous rulers. Old systems no Islamic coinage still using old tax

collection and coinage systems Two other sources of income ? frontier warfare kept

loyalty of Syrians ? freedmen or slaves embark on government owned

agricultural substantial boost to treasury. Yazid brief reign ? stabilize frontiers between

Syria and Byzantium ? outpost sea of Marmara abandoned hwile in north of

Syria itself ? carved up the over-large jund of Homs to make a new

frontier province based on Qinnarsrin