HIST 2A Lecture 14: Lecture #14
Document Summary
Ibn khaldun (14th c. ce) on the rise of islam. The cyclical rise and fall of nations (nomadism vs. settled civilization) Look back at history and pick out a pattern - history is cyclical because settled and nomadic people were inherently quite different. Settled people - gave in to luxury of civilized society; military/ideology weaker. Nomadic - militarily powerful, harder/tougher, ambitious; did not give into luxurious worldviews; they conquered settled societies -> fall into same luxuries - Very exhausting war - initially byzantine had success then went back to persian lands. North of arabia - rise of muhammad and islam. Geography - surrounded by very important trade routes/water routes; red sea by persian. Gulf, indian ocean to the south; desert - empty quarter; southern edge of peninsula = very wealthy since they controlled the trading; connected to silk road and mediterranean routes. Romans called them felix arabia ( blessed arabia ) and world trade.
