The Arabs

1. The Arabs • towns developedas Arabs carried goods between the Indian Ocean & the Mediterranean, the end of the Silk Road. • trace their ancestors to Abraham& his son Ishmael, who were believed to have built a shrine at Makkah(Mecca) called the Kaaba

2. The Life of Muhammad • Muhammad received revelations from God while meditatingin the hills. • he believed Allah revealed himself partially through Moses(Judaism) & Jesus(Christianity) & that Allah’s final revelationswere to him. • his revelations became the Quran,the holy scriptures of Islam. • Islam = “peace through submission to the will of Allah.”

3. The Life of Muhammad (cont.) • Quran contains ethical guidelines for Muslims(those who practice Islam) • one God = Allah; Muhammad is God’s prophet. • people in Makkah didn’t believe him, so Muhammad & some of his followers moved north to Madinah(Medina = “city of the prophet”) • Muhammad won support from residents of Madinah & surrounding Bedouin tribes. • formed thefirst communityof practicing Muslims.

4. The Life of Muhammad (cont.) • In 630, Muhammad returnedtoMakkahwith ten thousand men. • city surrendered& many residents convertedto Islam. • declared the Kaaba a sacred shrine. • All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, known as the hajj, to Makkah.

5. The Teachings of Muhammad • Islam is monotheistic. • Allah is the all-powerful creatorof everything. • Islam offers salvation& the hope of an afterlifeto its followers. • Muhammad is not considered divine, as Jesus is in the Christian religion; he’s a prophet who conveys Allah’s final revelations. • To obey Allah’s will, Muslims must follow an ethical codecomprised of the Five Pillars of Islam.

6. The Teachings of Muhammad (cont.) 1. belief–there is no deity but the One God, & Muhammad is his messenger 2. prayer–perform prescribed prayers 5x/day 3. charity–give part of one’s wealth to the poor 4. fasting–refrain from food & drink from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan 5. pilgrimage–make a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in a lifetime. • The faithful who follow the law are guaranteeda place in an eternal paradise.

7. The First Three Caliphs • Abu Bakr (632-634) • Caliph: leader of the Muslim community, not a prophet. • Friend of Muhammad’s • Faced two main problems • 1. Falseprophets claimed to be successor of Muhammad • 2. Secession of Arabic tribes fromUmmah(Muslim Community) • Expanded Muslim community into parts of Byzantine and Persia

8. Expanded Ummah to Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Western Persia, and parts of North Africa. Expanded the use of jihad Gave more structure to administration of Muslim state: created tax system. Umar (634-644 AD)

9. Muhammad’sson in law First years or rule were peaceful, but later had financial problems. Murdered by Egyptians Start of open political and religious conflictin Muslim community. Uthman (644-656 AD)

10. Ali’s Caliphate and the Division Between Sunni’s and Shi’as Mu’awiya Ali Muhammad’s cousinand son in law. ElectedCaliph Pressured to punish Uthman’s murderers. • Umayyad Leader • Syrian Governor • Increased pressure on Ali • Uthman member and leader of the Umayyad clan.

11. Civil War Between Muslims Mu’awiya and Ali’s armies foughtDecided both should resignMu’awiya declared himself caliph; Ali continued to rule in Persia and Iraq. Kharijites attempted to kill both leaders, but only successful with Ali. Sunni Shi’a Neveraccepted caliphs not direct descendants of Muhammad. Don’trecognize first 3 caliphs. Only Imam(special Muslim leader) can interpret Qur'an. Hold that 12 Imams, Ali the 1st, rightful leaders of Muslims. • Devout Muslims can be caliph • Support rule of First 3 caliphs. • Make up 80% of Muslim Population today. Conflict over caliphs created split between Muslims: Sunni and Shi’a

12. Mu’awiya Establishes a Dynasty • Ruled from 680-750 AD and moved caliphal capital to Damascus. • 14 caliphs succeeded Mu’awiya: Empire stretched from Spainto Central Asia.

13. Mu’awiya Establishes a Dynasty Administrative Reforms Umayyad Achievements • Innovations in irrigation and canals. • Perfected mosque construction techniques: • Great Mosque in Damascus • Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem. • Governors appointed to rule provinces. Spoils from victories helped finance government. • Three level tax system • Muslims paid zakat • Muslims converts considered Mawali: paid higher tax than Muslims. • Non-Muslims paid highest tax, izya (security tax)

14. Abbasids • Centered in Baghdad and the crossroads for land and water trade routes. • Created a standard code of law, Sharia’ab, and a system of banking with checks. • Built libraries and universities • Excelled in medicine, astronomy, math, and chemistry. • Advanced in navigational and sailing techniques. • Brought Indonesia within the Muslim Empire

15. Abbasids • Lived very lavishly and were never able to maintain complete control over Dar al-Islam causing states to separate. • Fatimidsconquered Sicily, Egypt, and Arabia; built powerful capital at Cairo. • Seljug Turks entered Muslim world as guards for Abbasid leaders and gained control of caliphs

16. Muslim Spain • Muslim forces gained control of Córdoba, Spain in 711 AD and founded the Umayyad state in 756 AD • Tried to invade France but stopped in 732 AD. • Charlemagne attempts to drive Muslims from Spain, but failed. • Glorious Muslim society (Golden Age) flourished in Spain from 711-1492. • Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived in peace under Muslim rule. • Advancements in literature, medicine, law, and agriculture. • Ibn Sina; Canon of Medicine became the standard medical textbook. • Cordoba’s grandeur: 21 suburbs, 300 public baths, 70 libraries, and The Great Mosque.