In the Umayyad Empire, a new social structure was developing that was dividing the Arab upper and lower classes while mixing the Arab and non-Arab elites. The Umayads had raised conflicting expectations. Non-Arab Muslims, whose taxes were not lowered, or lowered only temporarily, railed against the government for not delivering on its promises. Arabs were unhappy that their own taxes were being raised to compensate for the reductions offered to others. Eventually they were over-extended and exhausted and began to lose major battles. The Abbasid caliphs also had inner empire problems. The process of choosing a successor to the caliph remained un-resolved. Harun-al-Rashid had two sons who fought for the throne provoking a civil
In the Umayyad Empire, a new social structure was developing that was dividing the Arab upper and lower classes while mixing the Arab and non-Arab elites. The Umayads had raised conflicting expectations. Non-Arab Muslims, whose taxes were not lowered, or lowered only temporarily, railed against the government for not delivering on its promises. Arabs were unhappy that their own taxes were being raised to compensate for the reductions offered to others. Eventually they were over-extended and exhausted and began to lose major battles. The Abbasid caliphs also had inner empire problems. The process of choosing a successor to the caliph remained un-resolved. Harun-al-Rashid had two sons who fought for the throne provoking a civil