The Start Of The First Crusade – Umayyad And Abbasid Dynasty

Part A1

The start of the first Crusade was that the followers of popular preachers believed they were witnessing mankind’s last days and that a messianic figure would destroy the Muslims who were “infidel” and free the Holy Land. This inspired thousands of people to leave and march toward Jerusalem. The followers believed their faith would get them through this movement and this lead to many of them starving and some dying from lack of food and water, and also being enslaved by the Turks. (Acrobatiq, 2017)

Part A2 

Alexius called Pope Urban II hoping that he would form an army for him. The pope then called a council to help resolve several issues of religion which included freeing the Holy Land from Muslim Turks. There ended up being 300 people who rallied together including bishops, lords and kings. The Pope’s plea was a success and this lead him to form an army and head to Jerusalem. Their goal was for there to be a Holy War or a crusade. The pope had promised that the ones who die during the quest would go directly to heaven. (Acrobatiq, 2017) 

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Part B1 

The Umayyad Dynasty and the Abbasid Dynasty had different ways of how they decided to expand their territory and power. The Umayyad Dynasty went the route of conquering. They would capture major cities for their economic benefit and with this they slowly started expanding out to north of Arabia. The Abbasid Dynasty went the route of trade to expand their territory. They controlled most of the international trade routes that were in the Eastern Hemisphere. (Acrobatiq, 2017) 

Part B2 

The Umayyad Dynasty was very divided when it came to class. The people of the dynasty were very upset over the fact that Arab Muslim rulers were living a life of luxury and other Muslim citizens were living very poor. This was something that made the people question the dynasty. The Umayyad Dynasty preached about equality and promoted everyone being equal, yet a large majority of the non-Arab Muslims were being discriminated against. This issue could fall under religious policies and political policies because of the issue of class and how this affected the thoughts on religion. (Acrobatiq, 2017) 

The Abbasid Dynasty rulers and their government said that anyone who was a ruler and had power, their power came from God and not from the people. This is an example of how religious and political policies can go hand in hand. This lead to the dynasty saying that their government would base itself on the principle of piety, and not on things such as race, ethnic background and tolerance. The Abbasid Dynasty had a prime minister called a vizier. This person was the most trusted servant and was put in charge of civil and military affairs. This lead to some cities and different areas being able to have more control and run their own affairs. (Acrobatiq, 2017) 

Part C 

The Silk Roads were built on both sides of the Grand Canal and were guarded by soldiers to ensure safe and secure travel for travelers and for trade in the empire. The Silk Roads also joined roads from India and southern Russia. The Silk Roads helped transport many different items such as silk, spices, porcelain, gold, silver, perfume and many other products. This also allowed Muslim merchants and other missionaries in helping to spread religion. (Acrobatiq, 2017)

Sinister Hegemony And Broken Bloodline

“The relationship between a parent and child is important. It is the parent who has the most crucial role in maintaining a healthy relationship between them and their child to make sure that the relationship is built to be strong and respectful. With that said, if they fail to maintain this relationship up to the standards that is expected of them, it can cause the child to disregard the relationship and perceive it as unimportant. Elizabethan England’s social and political structure was based on a strict hierarchy which was unbending of the bloodline, where one stood in society, and the wealth they had. The Elizabethan family was characterized by distance, manipulation, and deference (Novy 316). Reputation is a strong aspect between this social and political structure. In William Shakespeare’s play King Lear, readers are introduced to one of Shakespeare’s controversial fictional plays about the monarchial fears. This is modeled by the devastating relationship between King Lear and his three daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. They are also introduced to the parental relationship between Gloucester and his two sons Edmund and Edgar. In Elizabethan England, the patriarchal figure had much power over women. Shakespeare is famous for challenging the society’s standards and presenting their fears in the form of a play. The ultimate motive for this tragedy is inheritance and the desire to have what one believes should be theirs. This play displays how the relationship between King Lear and his three daughters was ruined because of the division of the kingdom through cynical actions and self-interest. As for Gloucester and his two sons Edgar and Edmund, deceit and the truth create a dark fate. Yet regret and forgiveness is prominent once the lesson has been learned.

In Elizabethan England, inheritance of the land or power, was passed on typically once the King or Queen died. The inheritance was then passed down to the first born and only passed onto the other children if the first born were to die. Power was only passed down with the death of the King or Queen. The love test that Shakespeare creates in this play serves as an example of how one father is willing to retire and give his power to his children whilst he is still living. Being betrayed by his daughter Cordelia causes the King to only distribute the power between two of his children. Women were expected to be obedient to their fathers during this time period of the 1600s. Thus, her refusal to play his love test game, indicates that Lear himself as a father did not respect the love and honesty Cordelia honors him with. Cordelia is a representation of disobeying her patriarchal figure but she also embodies sincere love that any daughter should have for their father. Goneril and Regan’s sinister plight to use and take advantage of their father’s vulnerability for power, plays a significant role in defining one of society’s biggest fears, disobedience of the patriarchy. Lear’s desires royal authority without having responsibility as continuing as King. He wants respect, power, and everything he had as a King, but doesn’t want to deal himself with political decisions (like Prospero in The Tempest.) This ‘smart’ decision backfires when he is revealed with betrayal of his two oldest daughters Goneril and Regan. King Lear is responsible for the marital arrangements of his three his three daughters.

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Gloucester refers to Edmund as a bastard, and this causes tension between the two brothers. Edmund acts on what he thinks is morally right. He truly believes that Edgar does not deserve the land he feels should be his. He does not accept natural laws but rather abide by moral ones, “Primogeniture is the succession or inheritance belonging to the first-born, the principle, custom or law by which the property or title descends to the eldest son. The feudal rule of inheritance by which the whole of the real estate of an intestate passes to the eldest son” (Jamoussi 9). However, the villainous plot Edmund creates against his brother and father is based upon greed and this is because Gloucester failed as a father to show Edmund what he truly feels for him as his ‘father.’ Edmund deceiving his father about Edgar to get his way, is an example of how parent and child relationships weren’t as emotionally involved but were rather based upon one’s own self-interest and structures set in the society. He also proves that he is not worthy of his father’s own blood. Edmund can be seen as an equal to Goneril and Regan. Because they both have sinister thoughts against their father figures. Gloucester becoming blind symbolizes the blindness of these father figures within the relationships they have created with their children. Both King Lear and Gloucester are blinded by the deceit of their own children because of their egoism. However, the way Edgar addresses his father shows his compassion, understanding, and acceptance of his father’s flaws. Children were to honor their fathers because of their superiority over them. Edgar and Cordelia are two characters who demonstrate honest love and fair treatment that any child should do so to their fathers even if they weren’t treated as they should have been. Edgar however, does try to prove his worthiness to his father, and readers are exposed to the idea about the possibility of how children might have felt in this era in the case of primogeniture.

Edgar deceives himself by trying to earn his father’s love. In reality, believes that he is concealing his identity by being Poor Tom, and his inner struggle of feeling unworthy. He believes he is trying to protect his father. Deception is a strategy used throughout Shakespeare’s plays. Edgar seeks to win the love of his father because deep down his father is of an importance to him, he believes his deception towards his father is what’s best for his father but in reality it’s for himself. This play truly encapsulates deception and sinister tendencies within this subplot in the relationship between Gloucester and his two sons Edgar and Edmund.

King Lear’s actions of splitting his power between Goneril and Regan and disowning Cordelia personifies what Shakespeare perhaps wanted readers to perceive about putting ego and power above your own blood. 

He believes his daughters will honor him as they should because he believes he is still a powerful King, even after he gave his two daughters the throne. Lear begins to grow angry and envy the decision he should’ve made with logic rather than impulse. Forgiveness plays a significant role in defining the relationship between King Lear and Cordelia. Lear’s inability to see past his ego creates the image of a paternal figure lacking what creates a strong relationship between him as a parent and his child, “You must bear with me / Pray you now, forget and forgive / I am old and foolish” (4.7.88-90). However, Cordelia’s ability to forgive her father is significant because it shows the endearment and true love she feels for her father. Lear’s guilt and unwillingness to show his face to Cordelia proves that he learned what exactly moral right or a ruling right is and the consequences behind it. Viewing Goneril and Regan take advantage of him, further proves his ruling right yet moral mistake as a father. Lear recognizes his mistake as a father by not being able to see right through his evil daughters false declarations of love and respect he thought they had for him. He regrets being blinded by his need for flattery and not being able to realize that although Cordelia may not have given him the answer he wanted through his love test, she is the only daughter who truly has sincere intentions towards him. This is shown when all she can worry about is her father’s health and she no longer thinks about how he hurt her.

This play personifies the reign of King James and reflected societal fears of dishonor and abuse of power. Shakespeare demonstrates how primogeniture, deceit, and the truth can be connected, and can break relationships between father and son. He also shows how ego, self-interest, and greed can tear apart a father and daughter’s bond, and one’s inner confidence in parental delivery. Most importantly, the play reflected a lesson that should be learned with the way societal and political structures were shaped during this time period.”

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