The Almohads: The Rise of an Islamic Empire (Library of Middle East History)

How did an obscure Islamic visionary found an empire? The Almohad Empire at its zenith in the 12th century was the major power in Mediterranean and North Africa, ruling a huge and disparate region from the Atlas Mountains to Tunisia, Morocco and Andalusia. Allen Fromherz, drawing on medieval Arabic and Berber sources, analyses the history and myths surrounding the rise of the Almohads. He shows how Muhammad Ibn Tumart, the son of an obscure Berber tribal chief, founded his mission to reform Islam - then at a low point in its history, battered by the crusades, having lost Jerusalem and been undermined by weak spiritual and political leadership. Ibn Tumart was proclaimed Mahdi by the Berber tribes, as one who heralded the golden age of Islam. He provided charismatic leadership, and a message of unswerving adherence to absolute monotheism and fundamental Islam, to be enforced by jihad - holy war. He died in 1130, before his dream could be accomplished but his successors quickly built on his foundation, conquering Marrakech - the door to the Sahara gold trade and the greatest city of commerce and trade in North Africa. Ibn Tumart and his legacy were to prove the launch-pad for empire, leading to Almohad domination of the Western Mediterranean from Tunisia to Morocco and Andalusia. It became the seat of a brilliant civilisation, the seed-bed of a 12th-century renaissance and flowering of scholarship which reached far into the Middle East and Europe. Fromherz shows how Tumart formed the sinews of empire - by charismatic leadership, a reformed and powerful Islam, unity based on the closely-knit traditions of the Berber tribes, military power and sound administration. This is the first account of the Almohads in English and will be essential for all who are interested in Islam, the Almohad Empire, North Africa and Middle East, and the lasting cultural effect on the region and on Europe. Contents......Page 6 Maps, Figures and Tables......Page 8 Acknowledgements and Preface......Page 10 The Almohads: A General Overview......Page 15 On Foundind Myths......Page 21 The Almohads and Ibn Khaldun......Page 29 1. The Life of Ibn Tumart and the Birth of the Almohad Movement......Page 33 Ibn Tumart's name: The Myths and Uses of Ancestry......Page 36 The Journey East......Page 40 Al-Ghazali and Ibn Tumart......Page 44 The Journey Home......Page 49 Encounter with Abd Al-Mu'min......Page 60 Ibn Tumart in Marrakech......Page 62 Into the Mountains......Page 66 Ibn Tumart in Igiliz......Page 68 Mahdi Proclamation......Page 73 The Writing of History in Medieval North Africa......Page 84 Gender. Islam and Defining the Other......Page 95 The Almohad Book of Ancestry......Page 101 Integrating Tribal Traditions......Page 110 The Almohad Tribes......Page 114 The Almohad Hierarchy......Page 129 The Almohad Tribal Economy: A Preliminary Sketch......Page 142 3. The Doctrine of Muhammad Ibn Tumart: Mahdi of the Almohads......Page 149 The Almohad Mahdi Doctrine: Possible Historical Precedents......Page 151 Defining the Mahdi......Page 153 The Era of the Mahdi in the Maghrib......Page 159 A New Religiosity......Page 161 The Almohad Doctrine of the Mahdi......Page 163 The Doctrine of the A'azz Ma Yutlab: The Book of Ibn Tumart......Page 169 Law and Society......Page 181 Summary of the Book of Ibn Tumart......Page 183 4. The Rise of the Almohads in Context......Page 201 Social Factors: What is a Tribe?......Page 204 Charisma and the Mahdi......Page 207 Possible Economic Incentives for the Rise of the Almohads......Page 210 Conclusions......Page 213 Notes......Page 217 References......Page 269 Index......Page 281 How did an obscure Islamic visionary found an empire? The Almohad Empire, at its zenith in the 12th century, was the major power in the Mediterranean and North Africa, ruling a huge region from the Atlas Mountains to Andalusia. Effective administration was backed by military force, and the empire was the seat of a 12th-century renaissance in the fortunes of Islamic power in North Africa and the western Muslim world. The effect on the culture of both the Middle East and Europe was to prove lasting. Allen Fromherz, drawing on medieval Arabic and Berber sources, analyzes the myth and history surrounding the rise of the Almohad Empire. He showshow Muhammad Ibn Tumart, the son of a minor Berber tribal chief, set off on his mission to reform Islam -- then at a low point in its history, battered by the crusades, having lost Jerusalem and been undermined by weak spiritual and political leadership. Muhammad Ibn Tumart was proclaimed Mahdi -- one who would herald the golden age of Islam -- provided charismatic leadership, unwavering adherence to a fundamentalist monotheistic Islam enforced by holy war, established tribal unity, effective administration, and a formidable military force. Here were the sinews of the empire's power and the base for lasting political and cultural influence in the Middle East and Europe. How did an obscure Islamic visionary found an empire? The Almohad Empire at its zenith in the 12th century was the major power in the Mediterranean and North Africa, ruling a huge region from the Atlas Mountains to Andalusia. Effective administration was backed by military force, and the empire was the seat of a 12th-century renaissance in the fortunes of Islamic power in North Africa and the western Muslim world. The effect on the culture of both the Middle East and Europe was to prove lasting. Allen Fromherz, drawing on medieval Arabic and Berber sources, analyses the myth and history surrounding the rise of the Almohad Empire. He shows how Muhammad Ibn Tumart, the son of a minor Berber tribal chief, set off on his mission to reform Islam, then at a low point in its history, battered by the crusades, having lost Jerusalem and been undermined by weak spiritual and political leadership. Muhammad Ibn Tumart was proclaimed Mahdi - one who would herald the golden age of Islam - provided charismatic leadership, unwavering adherence to a fundamentalist monotheistic Islam enforced by holy war, established tribal unity, effective administration and a formidable military force. -- Publisher description Introduction -- The Life Of Ibn Tūmart And The Birth Of The Almohad Movement -- The Rise Of The Almohads: The Tribal Roots Of Monotheism -- The Doctrine Of Muḥammad Ibn Tūmart: Madhī Of The Almohads -- The Rise Of The Almohads In Context -- Conclusions. Allen J. Fromherz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-266) And Index.