1. The World of Islam

2. Essential Questions • What was the role of Muhammad in the development of the religion of Islam? • What are the major characteristics of the religion of Islam? • How did the Arab Empires develop and what were their contributions? • What impact did the Islamic and the Arab civilizations have on the Byzantine Empire?

3. The Arab People • Semitic-speaking nomads of the Arabian peninsula • Caravan trade connected the region with North Africa, India/China, & Europe • Polytheistic religion • Chief god was Allah (“the God”) • Ka’bah – Black Stone in the city of Mecca (Makkah)

4. Muhammad • Born in Mecca in 570 A.D. • Caravan trader married to Khadija • Spoken to by Allah through the angel Gabriel (knowledge of Jewish and Christian religions) • Recited what he was being told • Began teaching • Not accepted at first • 622 A.D. Moved to Yathrib (Medina – “city of the prophet”) • Hegira (journey to Yathrib, year 1 of Muslim calendar)

5. Muhammad • Finds converts in Medina (Bedouins) • Became religious, military, and political leader • 630 returned to Mecca • Took over the city, most converted • Made Ka’bah sacred shrine of Islam • Died in 632

6. Islam –“submission to the will of Allah” • Quran (Koran) – holy book • 114 chapters • Guidebook for ethics and code of law • Allah is the one god and createror of everything • Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses all prophets – Muhammad the last and greatest • 5 Pillars • Allah, Prayer, Ramadan, Pilgrimage (hajj), Alms

7. Arab Empire • Caliph – secular leader of Islam • Jihad – “struggle in the way of God” • holy war? • Muslim warriors believed they were given a place in heaven if they died in a holy war • Abu Bakr • Muhammad’s father-in-law, became caliph • Expanded into Byzantine and Persian Empires • Those taken over were not forced to convert, but did have to pay a tax

9. Umayyad Dynasty • 656 Ali becomes caliph (assassinated) • 661 general Mu’awiyah starts Umayyad Dynasty • Fighting begins over how caliph would be chosen • Moved capital to Damascus • Expansion reaches height • 717 failed to take Constantinople • 725 Spain mostly conquered • 732 loss in France at battle of Tours • Stops expansion of Islam into Europe!

10. Islam Splits • Non-Arab Muslims upset at how Arabs were treated better • 680 – Hussein (Ali’s second son) leads revolt in Iraq against Umayyad (defeated) • Shi’a – descendants of Ali as the true rulers of Islam • Sunni – Umayyad dynasty were the true caliphs

11. Abbasids (750 – 1258) • Umayyads became corrupt and lost control • Abu al-Abbas set-up the Abbasid Dynasty • Allowed all Muslims (Arab and non-Arab) to become leaders • Capital of Baghdad • Economic growth • Fighting over next caliph • Corruption (divorce and drinking) • Broke apart into many small dynasties

12. Seljuk Turks • Mercenaries from central Asia that converted to Islam • 1055 captured Baghdad • Abbasid caliph still religious leader • Sultan (“holder of power”) became military and political leader • Conflict with Byzantine resulted in the crusades.

13. Crusades and Mongols • Crusades (starting in 1000s) • At first Seljuk Turks ignored • 1099 – Crusaders take Jerusalem • Saladin leads Egyptian Sunni’s against Crusaders • Mongols • Took over Baghdad • Eventually converted to Islam • Islamic empire fell apart • Mamluk (slave soldiers) establish Cairo center of Islamic culture • Allowed for rise of the Ottoman Turks • Ended the Byzantine Empire • Ottoman Empire (1281 – 1920)

14. Islamic Civilization • Politics • umma – community of believers (Muslim World) • vizier – high ranking political (sometimes religious) leaders • Shah, caliph, sultan • Trade • bazaar • Society • Many classes • Christians and Jews had to pay special taxes • Slaves • Women

15. The Culture of Islam • Philosophy and Science • House of Wisdom (Baghdad) – held works by Plato and Aristotle • Paper from China, math from India • Math – Arabic # system, # 0, algebra • Astronomy – studied stars, astrolabe • Medicine • Literature • Arabic language • Omar Khayyam (The Arabian Nights) • Art and Architecture • Mosques • Influence in Spain