UNIT 2 : Islam
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UNIT 2: Islam Geography & History 2nd ESO
1. The birth of Islam. 1.1 Arabia before Muhammad • Birth of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. • Inhabited by several independent tribes • Inland tribes • Nomadic ranchers (oasis). • Animistic religion based on fetishes • Coastal tribes • Lived in settlements • Polytheistic religion • Hejaz region • Many merchants and traders. • Cities of Mecca and Yatrib. • Common elements (all Arabs) • Arabian language • Cult of the Black Stone in the Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca.
1. The birth of Islam. 1.2 Muhammad • Life of Muhammad • 570. Born in Mecca in a wealthy family. • 576. Orphaned and work to Khadija (rich merchant´s widow) • 595. Muhammad married Khadija and became a rich and respected merchant • 610. Retreat to a cave in Mount Hira to meditate and receive a message from Allah (God) • He memorized the verses with the teaching of Allah (future Koran) • He began to preach a new religion called Islam and eventually united all Arab tribes.
1. The birth of Islam. 1.3 The Islamic religion. • Sacred book: Koran • Followers or believers: Muslims • Pillars of Islam • Testament of faith: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet” • Prayer five times a day facing Mecca and the communal prayer on Fridays at the mosque. • Give alms for those in need (poor people) • Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. • Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. • Rules of behavior • Polygamy is permitted (Men can have up to four wives if they are rich enough) • Drinking alcohol, eating pork or gambling is forbidden.
2. The expansion of Islam. 2.1 The beginning of Islam • Muhammad preached in Mecca • He clashed with the rich merchants that controlled the city. • They wanted to kill Muhammad. • Hegira in 622. • Muhammad had to escape from Mecca to Yatrib. • Most important date in Islamic culture. It is used as the starting point of its calendar. • Yatrib changed its name to Medina. • Muhammad became a political and religious leader in Medina. • Muhammad recruited an army • In 630 Mecca is conquered by Muhammad.
2. The expansion of Islam. 2.2 The creation of a great empire. • After the death of Muhammad (632) the expansion of the Islamic empire grew in three stages. • Orthodox Caliphate • Caliphs: Muhammad family and friends • Capital: Medina • Umayyad Caliphate • Caliphs: Umayyad family (hereditary) • Capital was moved to Damascus • The empire reached its maximum expansion • Abbasid caliphate • Umayyads were killed and dethroned by the Abbasid family • Caliphs: Abbasid family • Muslim expansion stopped. • The Turks conquered the caliphate (1055)
2. The expansion of Islam. 2.3 The organization of the conquered land. • Government • Caliph (“shadow of God on Earth”) had all the power. • Political power • Religious power • Vizier or prime minister. • Helped the Caliph in government issues. • Directed the administration employees (civil servants). • Territorial administration • Organized into provinces governed by an Emir or Wali. • Two types of taxes • Dependent on the amount of land. (The more you have, the more you pay) • Christians and Jews paid an additional tax.
3. Economic activities 3.1 New farming practices • Agriculture became the foundation (basis) of the Muslim economy. • Large variety of crops • Examples: rice, cotton, sugar cane, citruses. • This crops spread to the western part of the empire. • Improve of farming techniques • Irrigations systems • Waterwheels • Ditches • Wells • Distribution of the conquered land. • Private property remained in the hands of its owners. • Public property was divided • One fifth of the land for the Caliph • The rest for the Muslim aristocracy
3. Economic activities 3.2 Craftsmanship and trade. • They were essential in Muslim culture • They were carried out in the cities. • Crafts • Small workshops where craftsmen also sold the items they made. • Trade • Benefitted due to the strategic position between Europe and Asia • Goods: Luxury items • Silk • Spices • Slaves • Method of payment: Gold coin (dinar)
4. Society and everyday life. 4.1 Social organization • Very diverse society due to the great expanse of the empire. • Ethnic groups • Arabs • Berbers • Religions • Islam • Christianity • Judaism • Social structure (according to wealth and power) • Aristocracy • Very small group (just a few people) • Arab origin • Large amount of land. • High position in government and administration. • Masses (rest of the population) • Peasants, craftsmen, traders • Mawali • Converted to Islam • Dhimmis • Maintained their religion • Christians and Jews • They paid an additional tax • Slaves • Some of them were prisoners of war. • Some of them were captured (generally in Africa) and sold as slaves.
4. Society and everyday life. 4.2 Changes in diet • It was conditioned by the religious beliefs. • Certain food were forbidden • Alcoholic drinks (such as wine) • Pork • Blood 4.3 The homes • The houses were simple • Promoted intimacy • Without decoration • Few windows with lattice. • Men and women used different areas • Harem: space for women located in the rear of the house or in the attic.
5. The Muslim city 5.1 The Medina and its buildings • Medina: Part of the city located within the walls. • Buildings and spaces in the medina • Citadel • Fortified area to defend the population • Located in the higher part of the medina • Main mosque • Where the communal prayer took place on Fridays • It was also used as a Koranicschool. • Marketplace (bazaar or souk) • Where craftsmen and traders sold their goods. • Famous for the large variety of shops • Public baths • Similar to the Roman baths • Granaries • Large storage areas for the merchants who arrived to the city. • Merchandise was stored and merchants could stay here.
5. The Muslim city 5.2 The city suburbs • Suburbs • Districts or neighborhoods located outside the walled area. • Poorest people of the city • Gardens: • In the countryside. • Worked by the population of the city • Recreational estates • In the countryside. • Large houses of the wealthier citizens • Used to escape from the noise and foul smells of the city
6. The artistic legacy 6.1 Architecture and decoration • Islamic religion forbids the representation of human and animal figures. • Architecture • Supports • Pillars and columns • Arches (they can be combined) • Horseshoe arch • Pointed arch • Lobed arch • Ceilings • Flat or domed • Decoration • Modest in the exterior • Rich in the interior (marble, tiling, wood and plaster panels) • Main motifs • Arabesque: Stylized plants. • Latticework: Geometric figures. • Epigraphy: Inscriptions with verses of the Koran.
6. The artistic legacy 6.2 The mosque and other buildings • Mosque • The most important building in Islamic art. • The structure is based on Muhammad house. • Courtyard (open space) • Fountain of ablutions: for ritual cleansing before prayer • Minaret: tower from which the muezzin calls to prayer. • Prayer hall (covered section) • Divided by pillars, columns and arches • Qibla wall: face Mecca • Mihrab • Most sacred place in the mosque • It is in the centre of the Qibla • Where the Koran is kept • (Minbar: pulpit from where the imam delivers the sermons.) • Example: Mosque of Córdoba. • Other buildings • Palaces • Residence where the Caliphs lived • Two areas: public and private • They had beautiful gardens and fountains. • Citadels: fortresses • Mausoleums: burial sites • Madrasas: educational institutions.
