Why was the Muslim world so divided on the eve of the crusades?

Why was the Muslim world so divided on the eve of the crusades?

1. Religious Schism

   • Schism- a division of people, usually belonging to an organisation (in this case Islam: Shia and Sunni)
   • The Sunni Seljuq against the Shi'ite Fatimids of Cario
     • Battleground at Syria and Palestine
     • Two powers made it unthinkable to form a united font against the crusaders.

2. Death of Islamic Leaders

   • 1092- Sultan of the Seljuq empire, Malikshah and his vizier, Nizam al-Mulk.
   • 1094- Fatimid caliph of Egypt, al-Mstansir (ruled for 58 years) and his vizie, Badr al-JAmali.
   • 1094- Abbasid Sunni Caliph al-Muqtadi Died.
   • The successoion death of both the Suljuq and Fatimid empires occurring at the same time had a destabilizing effect on the Islamic world.
     • The Sunni and Shi'ite both had given away to division and increased anarchy.

3. Suljuq Disunity

   • Death of Nizam al-Mulk and Malikshah in 1092 - The Suljuq world divided
     • Military conflict lasted until 1105
       • Conflict between the two sons of Malikshah, Muhammad and Barkyaruq fought out in western Iraq
         • They used up most of the military resources by this conflict
         • Two sons had Zero interest in the Levant and left Jerusalem to its fate

4. Aftermath of Manzikert

   • Seljuq Sultan Alp Arslan allows independency to Turkish leaders to carve out their own territories.
     • Tribes showed little unity from the beginning.
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5. Kilij Arslan

   • He had been hostage since 1086 and released at 1092; Death of Malikshah
     • He re- founded the Sultanate of Rum after the death of Malikshah
     • He was more interested in his heritage in the East: In this process, his father Suleyman 's lands.
       • The individual tribes had started vying with each other to establish their own independence

6. Problems in Egypt

7. Syria and Palestine on the eve of crusade