The Relationship Between Military Organization and Economic Structure in the Umayyad State in al-Andalus

Yaşar Emrah Koşdaş; Nebi Gümüş

Makale detayları

The Relationship Between Military Organization and Economic Structure in the Umayyad State in al-Andalus

Yazarlar:

Yaşar Emrah Koşdaş | Nebi Gümüş

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç) | Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 28, pp.1-15

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340734

pISSN:

2980-0331

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study examines the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure in the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, analyzing the impact of the military establishment on the states economic prosperity and wealth. In the medieval Islamic world, military power played a critical role in the collection, protection and sustainability of economic resources, serving as a determinant factor in preserving the political stability of states. Within this context, the primary aim of the study is to comprehensively analyze the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure across the various historical phases of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, spanning from the period of the Great Fitna to the caliphal era and the post-Amirid decline. The present study employs an analytical approach to historical data to compare the economic conditions during periods of strong and weak military organization. During the period known as the Great Fitna, the occurrence of uprisings led to a weakening of central authority. This, in turn, had an adverse effect on military organization. The subsequent challenges, including declining tax revenues and the closure of trade routes, were not effectively addressed by the central administration, which lacked sufficient military might to do so. This sequence of events contributed to a marked economic decline, leading the state to the threshold of a substantial crisis. Conversely, during the caliphal era, the robust military forces established by Abd al-Rahman III and his son al-Hakam II effectively suppressed rebellions, safeguarded trade routes and promoted agricultural production. Notably, the disciplined central army established under Abd al-Rahman III ensured the regular collection of taxes, significantly enriching the state treasury. The collection of taxes from newly conquered territories, in conjunction with the strengthening of commercial activities, directly contributed to an economic boom. The period also saw significant advancements in naval strength and the strategic development of port cities, enhancing the influence of Córdoba on Mediterranean trade routes and fostering commercial relations with the Maghreb and Europe. During the Amirid era, the military reforms initiated under the leadership of al-Mansūr initially did not adversely affect the functioning of the army. However, the abolition of the military-based iqta system eventually weakened the military structure. Although the augmentation of the military with new groups provided short-term success, prolonged civil wars significantly undermined the armys strength, disrupting economic stability and accelerating the states collapse. The findings of this study underscore the indispensable role of a well-functioning military organization in ensuring economic stability, as a strong military establishment facilitates the regular collection of tax revenues, safeguards trade routes and fosters economic prosperity.Conversely, periods of military weakness are marked by deepening economic crises, whereas periods of military strength witness peak economic affluence. Consequently, it can be concluded that the economic stability and prosperity of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus were inextricably linked to the strength of its military organization.

 This study examines the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure in the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, analyzing the impact of the military establishment on the states economic prosperity and wealth. In the medieval Islamic world, military power played a critical role in the collection, protection and sustainability of economic resources, serving as a determinant factor in preserving the political stability of states. Within this context, the primary aim of the study is to comprehensively analyze the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure across the various historical phases of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, spanning from the period of the Great Fitna to the caliphal era and the post-Amirid decline. The present study employs an analytical approach to historical data to compare the economic conditions during periods of strong and weak military organization. During the period known as the Great Fitna, the occurrence of uprisings led to a weakening of central authority. This, in turn, had an adverse effect on military organization. The subsequent challenges, including declining tax revenues and the closure of trade routes, were not effectively addressed by the central administration, which lacked sufficient military might to do so. This sequence of events contributed to a marked economic decline, leading the state to the threshold of a substantial crisis. Conversely, during the caliphal era, the robust military forces established by Abd al-Rahman III and his son al-Hakam II effectively suppressed rebellions, safeguarded trade routes and promoted agricultural production. Notably, the disciplined central army established under Abd al-Rahman III ensured the regular collection of taxes, significantly enriching the state treasury. The collection of taxes from newly conquered territories, in conjunction with the strengthening of commercial activities, directly contributed to an economic boom. The period also saw significant advancements in naval strength and the strategic development of port cities, enhancing the influence of Córdoba on Mediterranean trade routes and fostering commercial relations with the Maghreb and Europe. During the Amirid era, the military reforms initiated under the leadership of al-Mansūr initially did not adversely affect the functioning of the army. However, the abolition of the military-based iqta system eventually weakened the military structure. Although the augmentation of the military with new groups provided short-term success, prolonged civil wars significantly undermined the armys strength, disrupting economic stability and accelerating the states collapse. The findings of this study underscore the indispensable role of a well-functioning military organization in ensuring economic stability, as a strong military establishment facilitates the regular collection of tax revenues, safeguards trade routes and fosters economic prosperity.Conversely, periods of military weakness are marked by deepening economic crises, whereas periods of military strength witness peak economic affluence. Consequently, it can be concluded that the economic stability and prosperity of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus were inextricably linked to the strength of its military organization.

 This study examines the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure in the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, analyzing the impact of the military establishment on the states economic prosperity and wealth. In the medieval Islamic world, military power played a critical role in the collection, protection and sustainability of economic resources, serving as a determinant factor in preserving the political stability of states. Within this context, the primary aim of the study is to comprehensively analyze the relationship between the military organization and the economic structure across the various historical phases of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, spanning from the period of the Great Fitna to the caliphal era and the post-Amirid decline. The present study employs an analytical approach to historical data to compare the economic conditions during periods of strong and weak military organization. During the period known as the Great Fitna, the occurrence of uprisings led to a weakening of central authority. This, in turn, had an adverse effect on military organization. The subsequent challenges, including declining tax revenues and the closure of trade routes, were not effectively addressed by the central administration, which lacked sufficient military might to do so. This sequence of events contributed to a marked economic decline, leading the state to the threshold of a substantial crisis. Conversely, during the caliphal era, the robust military forces established by Abd al-Rahman III and his son al-Hakam II effectively suppressed rebellions, safeguarded trade routes and promoted agricultural production. Notably, the disciplined central army established under Abd al-Rahman III ensured the regular collection of taxes, significantly enriching the state treasury. The collection of taxes from newly conquered territories, in conjunction with the strengthening of commercial activities, directly contributed to an economic boom. The period also saw significant advancements in naval strength and the strategic development of port cities, enhancing the influence of Córdoba on Mediterranean trade routes and fostering commercial relations with the Maghreb and Europe. During the Amirid era, the military reforms initiated under the leadership of al-Mansūr initially did not adversely affect the functioning of the army. However, the abolition of the military-based iqta system eventually weakened the military structure. Although the augmentation of the military with new groups provided short-term success, prolonged civil wars significantly undermined the armys strength, disrupting economic stability and accelerating the states collapse. The findings of this study underscore the indispensable role of a well-functioning military organization in ensuring economic stability, as a strong military establishment facilitates the regular collection of tax revenues, safeguards trade routes and fosters economic prosperity.Conversely, periods of military weakness are marked by deepening economic crises, whereas periods of military strength witness peak economic affluence. Consequently, it can be concluded that the economic stability and prosperity of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus were inextricably linked to the strength of its military organization.

 Bu araştırma, Endülüs Emevî Devletinde askerî teşkilat ile ekonomik yapı arasındaki bağıntıyı ele almakta, askerî teşkilatın devletin ekonomik refahı ve iktisadî zenginlik üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Orta Çağ İslam dünyasında askerî gücün, ekonomik kaynakların toplanması, korunması ve sürdürülebilirliği üzerindeki kritik rolü, devletlerin siyasî istikrarını koruma açısından belirleyicidir. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın temel amacı, Endülüs Emevî Devletinin büyük fitne döneminden başlayarak hilâfet dönemine ve Âmirîler dönemi sonrası çöküş sürecine kadar uzanan farklı tarihsel evrelerinde, askerî teşkilat ile ekonomik yapı arasındaki ilişkiyi kapsamlı bir şekilde incelemektir. Çalışmada tarihî veriler, analitik bir yaklaşımla ele alınmış; askerî teşkilatın güçlü ve zayıf olduğu dönemler arasındaki ekonomik farklar karşılaştırılmıştır. Büyük fitne döneminde meydana gelen isyanlar, merkezî otoritenin zayıflamasına ve bu durumun askerî teşkilatı da olumsuz etkilemesine yol açmıştır. İsyanların ardından vergi gelirlerinin azalması ve ticaret yollarının kapanması gibi sorunlarla karşılaşan merkezî yönetim, yeterli askerî güce sahip olmadığı için bu sorunları çözmekte başarısız olmuştur. Bu zayıflık, ekonomik çöküşü hızlandırmış ve devleti derin bir krizin eşiğine getirmiştir. Bunun karşısında, hilâfet döneminde III. Abdurrahman ve oğlu II. Hakemin kurduğu güçlü ordular ile isyanlar bastırılmış, ticaret yollarının güvenliği sağlanmış ve tarımsal üretim teşvik edilmiştir. Özellikle III. Abdurrahman döneminde kurulan disiplinli merkezî ordu, vergilerin düzenli toplanmasını güvence altına almış ve devlet hazinesi büyük ölçüde zenginleşmiştir. Fethedilen bölgelerden alınan vergiler ve güçlenen ticarî faaliyetler, ekonomik refahın yükselmesine doğrudan katkı sağlamıştır. Zamanla donanmanın güçlendirilmesi ve liman şehirlerinin stratejik olarak yapılandırılması, Akdeniz ticaret yollarında Kurtuba yönetiminin etkisini artırmış, Mağrib ve dönemin Avrupasıyla olan ticarî ilişkilerin gelişmesine zemin hazırlamıştır. Aynı zamanda Endülüs Emevî Devletinde ziraî üretimin güvenliği için sulama sistemleriyle birlikte, hisn adı verilen tahkimatlar inşa edilmiş ve ticarete konu olan tarımsal faaliyetler emniyet altına alınmıştır. Alınan önlemler, üretim kapasitesini artırarak ekonomik büyümeye katkı sağlamıştır. Âmirîler dönemine gelindiğinde, Ebû Âmir el-Mansûrun liderliğinde askerî teşkilatta gerçekleştirilen reformlar, başlangıçta ordunun işleyişini olumsuz etkilememiştir. Ancak bu reformlardan biri olan askerî temelli iktâ sisteminin kaldırılması, ilerleyen dönemlerde askerî yapının zayıflamasına neden olmuştur. Bu dönemde, askerî teşkilatın yeni gruplarla takviye edilmesi kısa vadede bazı başarılar sağlamış olsa da uzun süren iç savaşlar ordunun gücünü önemli ölçüde kırmıştır. Bu durum, ekonomik istikrarın bozulmasına yol açarak devletin çöküş sürecini hızlandırmıştır. Çalışmanın bulguları, düzenli işleyen bir askerî teşkilatın ekonomik istikrarın sağlanması açısından mutlak bir öneme sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Güçlü askerî teşkilatın vergi gelirlerin düzenli toplanması, ticaret yollarının güvence altına alınması ve ekonomik refahın artması gibi hususları sağladığı görülmektedir. Endülüs Emevî Devletinin askerî gücünün zayıfladığı dönemlerde ekonomik krizlerin derinleştiği; güçlü olduğu dönemlerde ise ekonomik refahın en yüksek düzeye ulaştığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Makale detayları

The Relationship Between Military Organization and Economic Structure in the Umayyad State in al-Andalus

Yazarlar:

Yaşar Emrah Koşdaş | Nebi Gümüş

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç) | Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 28, pp.1-15

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340734

pISSN:

2980-0331

Islamic History

Umayyad State in al-Andalus

Military Organization

Economic Prosperity

Tax Revenues

Trade Activities.İslam Tarihi

Endülüs Emevî Devleti

Askerî Teşkilat

Ekonomik Refah

Vergi Gelirleri

Ticarî Faaliyetler.

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Yaşar Emrah Koşdaş | Nebi Gümüş

Yayıncı: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar: Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç) | Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi: Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 28, pp.1-15

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 4/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001340734

pISSN: 2980-0331

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Yaşar Emrah Koşdaş | Nebi Gümüş

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Gelenek Çalışmaları (Doğu | Yahudi | Hristiyan ve İslami Gelenekler Hariç) | Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 28, pp.1-15

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340734

pISSN:

2980-0331