QARMATIAN

Although it is not known exactly where the empire originated, the Qarmatians civilization is believed to have formed in 894 CE in southern Iraq and fell in 1078 CE. They originated from the Ismaili movement because they, like the Ismaili people, did not accept Fatimid [i] Caliph Ubayd Allah’s leadership. The Qarmatians valued and promoted social equality [ii], which attracted a wide variety of people, including those considered to be members of the lower class. In about 976 CE, the Qarmatians were defeated in the Battle of Hama [iii] as they surrendered to the Abbasids [iv] , marking the end of their existence as a civilization.

The Qarmatians attempted to form an alliance with southeast African leaders known as the Zanj [v]. However, their plan to form an allyship with the Zanj quickly failed [vi]. This attempt to connect led Qarmatian to gain many enemies [vii], as they were thought to be heretics by Sunni Muslims and other Shiite groups. Despite this plan not coming to fruition, the Qarmatian civilization held a powerful position in the Persian Gulf and became allies with the other nations that they traded with. Beyond this knowledge of their allyship with their trading partners, little information has been recorded regarding who their specific allies were.

The Qarmatian civilization held a strong and lasting influence on certain modern Shiites living in the areas where the Qarmatians once inhabited, as is evident through their enduring beliefs that continue to be held by many today. Aside from the cultural and religious influence of the Qarmatian civilization, as evidenced by modern Shiites who continue to live in the area, the Qarmatian empire also held lasting political influence. The society is one of the earliest longstanding communist societies [viii]. Given the Qarmatians' political structure, the ancient civilization can be seen as a precedent for other communist societies [ix] that have followed ever since.

The Qarmatians are the only communist society that endured for more than a century prior to the 20th century. Famous rulers of their civilization included Abū Sa’īd al-Jannābī [x] and his successor, Abū Tāhir Sulaymān [xi]. This society was ruled based on egalitarian values and reasoning. With time, it transitioned from a communist society to a republic in which a chief and seven council members made decisions for the society’s people. The government of the Qarmatians took inspiration from Greek philosophy, carrying the belief that the goal of all humanity is happiness, and that the government should provide the best for every citizen.

In 930, the holy site of Mecca was attacked during the Hajj pilgrimage season and the sacred Black Stone was stolen [xii] by the Qarmatians. This theft tarnished the Qarmatian legacy and has left a negative connotation, as tens of thousands of pilgrims were murdered in this incident. The stone was taken to the Qarmatian capital of Hasa and was kept there for ransom until the Abbasids were forced to pay a great deal of money for its safe return. The removal of the sacred stone also caused it to break into many different pieces and left irreparable damage [xiii] to the stone.

The Qarmatian civilization’s biggest accomplishments include taking control of the Persian Gulf and existing as the “blueprint” for an enduring communist society [xiv]. As the first communist society to last for more than a century, its political structure at the time is lauded as one of its primary accomplishments. Through holding power in the gulf, the civilization was able to form alliances and trade with other civilizations in the area, which in turn, boosted their economy. By being the first long-lasting communist society, they set the precedent for other future nations and attempted to form a utopian society and implement egalitarian values.

The economy of the ancient Qarmatian society thrived [xv]. Production of fruit and grain were the main propellers of the economy, which was generated by those enslaved by the Qarmatians. Approximately 30,000 Ethiopian people were enslaved by the empire and were used to cultivate and grow the civilization’s agricultural presence. Additionally, taxes were not imposed in the society and despite their personal economic statuses, anyone could obtain loans with no interest, making the civilization appealing to the lower class. Their egalitarian economy flourished at this time while leaders emphasized equality, despite profiting immensely from the labor of those the civilization enslaved.