What were the causes of the decline of the caliphate?

Answer 1

Most shia Muslims are of northern semitic extraction, while Sunni Muslims in the Arabian peninsula are largerly descended from Ishmael, as is the general "claim." Most historians hold Biblical patriarchs, including the patriarch of the Arabs, to be myths, despite genetic evidence of relative genetic homoge-whatever among the Arabs. The general claim is that the biblical Abraham did not exist, and yet throughout the eastern hemisphere a Y chromosomal genetic marker was found that can be traced back to a single man. The identity of that man however, is a mystery.

Some theories hold it was Genghis Khan, however, the problem with that theory is that he only had a small handfull of concubines, relatively small for a powerful Mongol Chieftain-turned-emperor.

Although this is not written anywhere, and violating wiki answers rules here this is a personal opinion, highly likely that man was Marco Polo believe it or not, who most prolifically fathered children across the eastern hemisphere.

Even in Muslim era Persia, many of the isolated tribes still followed old customs regarding sexual practices, and the whole idea of virginity was alien to them. Then there is also the issue of traveller hospitality; if a traveler wished for a woman, hospitality rules beyond the Arabian peninsula, and in parts of Persia, said that you had to give them a woman, usually one of your daughters. Far as pregnancy issues, in those times people were not racist like they are now, nor were children seen as a burden but a blessing; if a kid resulted, if it was a boy, it was a helping hand on the fields, or in battle, if it was a girl hey, she was born pretty she could be married off to a wealthy family.

The appearance of blue eyes, is frequent, along the area of the silk route; its highly possible, those are descendants of Marco Polo. Marco Polo was 15 I believe when he left Italy, and well into the silk road, he'd have been a horny teenager. What I am suggesting, is that Marco Polo impregnated men's daughters, and possibly wives, from Iran, throughout northern India, and parts of China, hence the reason that particular genetic marker is found all over the place. This COULD be confirmed, if any descendants of Marco Polo were tested today, and see if their genes match those of those people.

Again many parts of the silk road had vague sexual morals, but strict hospitality rules dictating you had to give a traveler a woman if they needed one, being a teenager again the likelihood is very high, Marco Polo was spoiled sexually, from western Persia, all the way to China.

Of course that's just an opinion; a scientist has yet to test this.

Answer 2

The Umayyad Caliphate ended when the Abbasid family usurped power in AD 750. The Umayyads had come to power in AD 660 when Mu'awiyya took the caliphate from the Fourth and last "Rightful" Caliph `Ali in the "First Fitna" war and moved the capital to Damascus. Many Muslims did not believe that the Umayyads were the right people to lead the Muslim community (the "umma"). They argued instead that only those of Muhammad's family (or tribe) had the right to the caliphate. They therefore had a sizeable proportion of their population that resented their control from the beginning.

This was not a problem at first as the early Umayyads were quite competent. When they ruled, the caliphate was reasonably stable and prosperous. They were able to expand the limits of the caliphate, including the conquest of the Iberian peninsula and to the far reaches of Persia. They also oversaw an imposition of Arabic as the administrative and religious language of the whole caliphate.

However, in the 8th century, a succession of relatively weak caliphs threatened the Umayyad dynasty. Although they had claimed initially that they would select the best candidate - the most competent, strongest, most pious man irrespective of family - to be the next caliph, they always selected within the family and while they were lucky with some heirs, by the end, they proved rather unlucky. Add to that infighting within the family further weakened the dynasty. This proved increasingly unpopular with religious scholars (who disapproved of the monopolization of religious authority in one family) and the population at large who objected to the increasing pretensions of the family.

The Abbasids traced their descent to an uncle of Muhammad and therefore claimed a natural right to the caliphate. At first, while there were powerful Umayyads, they had not been able to capitalize upon this. However, once the weaker Umayyads began squabbling and fighting, they were able to take advantage. They tested their support carefully in the Khurasan region of Persia and finding success, the new leader of the Hashimi clan (of which the Abbasids were part) - Abu Muslim - moved into an open revolt in AD 746. They began in Khurasan, securing control there and using its resources to build their forces and finally defeat the last Umayyad caliph, Marwan II. The first Abbasid caliph, Abu al-Abbas, became caliph in 750 and moved the capital to Baghdad.

Answer 3

Um why you asking me you think I'm smart no! I'm really pretty though and could use a boyfriend<3