Elemental Analysis of Silver Coins during the Umayyads through the PIXE Method

Abstract

The Umayyads founded the Umayyad dynasty under the leadership of Muawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan in 41 AH (662 AD) and this government continued until 132 AH (753 AD) (Hawting, 1986, pp.35-39). During Muawiyah's reign, Damascus became the capital of the Islamic State. The territory ruled by them was extended to India in the east and to the Iberian Peninsula in Spain in the west. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, the fifth Umayyad caliph (686-707 AD/ 65-86 AH), saved the Umayyad government from chaos when it was on the verge of collapse and, thereby, was able to bring about some reforms in the administrative and financial affairs of the state. Following him, Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (707-717 AD/ 86-96 AH) reached the height of power. The most important issue in the Walid era was the expansion through conquest, which included the conquest of Transoxania, Sindh, Africa, Andalusia, and conquests on the Roman front. These conquests are of special significance in Walid's political performance. Also, Walid's interest in developmental affairs and, of course, in the treasury that his father had left him, made him have an eye for the Caliphate's development in addition to his own interests (ibid). During the era of Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik (717-720 AD/ 96-99 AH), the number of conquests fell sharply compared to that of Walid's period. After him, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (720-722 AD/99-101 AH) came to rule. His political actions were mostly directed towards the preservation of conquest and supervision of the governors' performance in different regions. Then, Yazid bin Abd al-Malik (722-726 AD/ 101-105 AH) came to rule until the reign of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (726-746 AD/ 105-125 AH). Hisham's rule is a brilliant era in the history of the Umayyads and conquests continued during his period (Maqrizi, 1967, p.54).