Changes And Continuities Of The Postclassical Period

The postclassical period (c. 600 to c. 1450) was marked by the rise and fall of various Islamic states, from the early caliphates like the Umayyads and Abbasids to later entities such as the Seljuks and Mamluks. The Ummayad caliphate was vast and under the rule of their caliph, the Prophet Muhammad, who had unveiled the Quran to the followers of Islam. From the Quran came the Shari'a, Islamic law, that all the Islamic states obeyed and followed. These states developed complex administrative systems and a sophisticated legal framework based on Islamic principles.Their governance being based on the shari'a united the entire region that the Prophet Muhammed had conquered for the Ummayad Caliphate for more than 6 centuries. After the death of the

As such, the united region never managed to come back together to the initial grandness, but they still believed in the divine kingly virtues that were instilled in the caliphs, who were chosen by their God to lead and rule them justly. So the caliphates were made of very loyal subjects even when the political leaders themselves were sometimes divided. The Islamic states went through a period of continuity during the post-classical era, so the political characteristics of the Islamic states changed to a small extent. All the Caliphates followed the Shari'a, Islamic law, even until the 13th century and as such the caliphal assertion of divine authority and broad loyalty remained a consistent feature. Despite this, the sovereigns in the area grew to be divided with conflicting opinions, which is a change from the initial strength of the states. Even then, the subjects were obedient to the caliphs and would follow their divine ruler onto battle and certain death.The caliphal assertion of divine authority remained throughout the postclassical period, reinforcing the continuity in Islamic political