What are some differences between Abbasid and the Umayyad empire?

Answer 1

The Abbasid Empire and the Umayyad Empire were great periods of history but the Abbasid Empire differed greatly from the Umayyad Empire. The Abbasid Empire was a golden age. They moved their capitol from Mecca to Baghdad. The rulers had absolute power over their subjects. Many of their chief administrative officials were Persians and were called Wazirs. During this time there was an increase in Afro-Eurasian trade. Wealthy landed elite that emerged under Abbasids were called Ayans. During this time they recovered and improved upon earlier ideas from Greece and Rome. They also created Dhows during this time which are boats that are used for trade, very difficult to sink and are still used today. The Umayyad Empire was a great period of history but there were more advancements and changes made in the Abbasid Empire.

Answer 2

Abbasid empire spread farther, had more regional diversity,and a larger bureaucracy

Umayyad: (661-750 CE)

-Meccan merchant class

-Brought stability with Sunnis

-Head tax (jizya); favored Arabs

-Relatively tolerant in religion

-no social mobility (can't move up in class)

-Rulers live luxurious lives (though centralized rule)
-Capital- Damascus
-good military

Abbasid:
-More Persian: support of non-Muslims -> controls Persia/Mesopotamia
-Diverse administration
-DON'T EXPAND: content to administer empire inherited
-Brings together Muslims: Sunni/Shiite are all same etc.
-Court located at Baghdad

-laws based on Quran and sharia (has lex talionis: retaliation; if u kill someone, u r killed)

Answer 3

Answer 1

People hated Umayyads for their public sins. Abbasids were relatives of messenger of God Muhammad SAWW and they could become popular by telling people that we want to make a real Islamic government. so people supported them to get power. but in fact they were power hungry too. but at least did their sins private.

Answer 2

There are a few major differences between the Abbassids and the Umayyads.

Mawali Exclusion - Inclusion:

Mawali (or non-Arab Muslims) were traditionally excluded from political and social affairs. The Umayyad in particular treated them as second-class Muslims. The evidence of this treatment was that Mawali were not allowed to have many government positions and that they were taxed whereas Arab Muslims were not taxed at all. Mawali made up an important component of the Umayyad Caliphate, especially Persians. Persia was always a high seat of culture in the Islamic Empire. As a result, ideas moved quite freely throughout Persia and Persians considered themselves to be of equal worth to Arabs.

The Abbassids were an Arab Caliphate (as opposed to the Samanids who were a Persian Caliphate) and were expected by many Arabs to treat other Arabs better than the Mawali. However, the Abbassids consistently treated Persians equal to or better than their Arab brethren which created animosity and a sense of betrayal. Many Arabs saw the Persians as the major backers of the Caliphate and that they were a tool for Persian interests.

Use of Armies

Armies like the Mamluk (who were retained by the Abbassids for the defense of the Caliphate) were Turks who defended an Arab State. This was a shift from the Umayyads who conquered primarily with Arab Armies and Berber Armies. Additionally, while the Umayyads tried to expand the Caliphate, the Abbassids did not expend as much effort on conquest and spent more on defense.

Capital Cities

Umayyads ruled from Damascus, Syria. Abbassids ruled from Baghdad, Iraq.

Support of the Arts, Maths, and Sciences

The Abbassids were much more well-known for supporting the arts, maths, and sciences than were the Umayyads.