The political and economic situation in Damascus during Mu'awiyah's rule

Subject Areas : Journal of History (Tarikh)

Maryam Geravandi ¹ , reza Shabani ² , Shahram Yousefi Far ³

1 - PhD student of Islamic history،Science and Research Branch،Islamic Azad University،Tehran،iran
2 - Professor of History Group،Science and Research Branch،Tehran،Iran
3 - History professor،Faculty member, Institute of Humanities and Cultural studies،Tehran،Iran

Received: 2020-04-12 Accepted : 2020-04-17 Published : 2020-05-21

Keywords: Caliphate, social situation, Damascus, Mu'awiyah, Political situation,

Abstract :

Damascus, the largest city in Sham and the capital of the province before and after the rise of Islam, is one of the oldest cities in the world, which has played a very important role in the political and social developments of Islam.Mu'awiyah is one of these rulers who had a direct influence on the situation in Damascus and was influenced by it during his caliphate. Therefore, the present article, which seeks to examine the political and economic situation in Damascus during the reign of Mu'awiyah, will examine the two issues of the political and economic situation in Damascus after expanding the conceptual space of the research topic. According to the thematic documents presented in this research, the research method is descriptive-analytical and the method of data collection in this research is library. The study's findings suggest that by choosing Damascus as the center of the caliphate, Mu'awiyah was able to consolidate his power base in Damascus and Sham during his emirate and change the city's political situation.Simultaneously with the use of the tax system and the innumerable wealth he had gained from Sham, he prospered the city of Damascus economically, and finally, according to the necessities that existed for the formation of the Islamic State, to establish or expand and develop various political institutions. Governments such as the political, economic, social, and cultural courts, as well as some institutions, established the centers of the foundations of their governmental authority.