The Americas & The Muslim World

1. The Americas & The Muslim World

2. The Land Bridge • Beringia • Connected American & Asia • First Americans arrived sometime during the Ice Age • Buildup of glaciers locked up huge amount of earth’s waters and lowered sea levels • Created a land bridge between Alaska and Asia • Animals came and people followed, either on foot or by boat

3. Hunters and Gatherers • Earliest Americans were hunters • Animals provided meat, hide, and bone for food and clothing • When they migrated, they were usually following game • When the settled for a short time, they lived in caves or temporary shelters • At the end of the Ice Age, travel across the land bridge stopped because glaciers melted and sea levels rose

4. Agriculture in early america • Agricultural revolution • Grew beans, squash and maize • Maize became the most important crop • Agriculture spread over North and South America • As food production increased, so did population of Empire

5. Olmec Civilizations • MesoAmerica’s first known civilization builders • Emerged around 1200 BC along Gulf Coast of Mexico • Built a well structured society • Large stone monuments were uncovered, probably built for the Gods • Probably worshipped a jaguar spirit • Developed a large trading network across Mesoamerica • For unknown reasons Olmec civilization collapsed

6. Zapotec Civilization • Traces of Olmec influence, but developed their own unique civilization • Very fertile soil, rain, and a mild climate that supported agriculture

7. Societies of the andes • Mountains in South America • Harsh place to develop a civilization • Ice and snow cover area • Small coastal plain area that is a desert • First inhabitants were hunter-gatherers • Chavinculture lived into the mountains • Their culture spread quickly across Peru • Primarily a religious civilization • Nazca • Southern coast of Peru • Extensive irrigation systems • Beautiful textiles • Moche • Irrigation systems • Agriculture flourished • Enormous wealth

8. Trade in the early middle east • Trade routes connected major areas of Arabia • Merchants moved along caravan routes, trading goods • During holy months, caravans stopped in Mecca • Holy city • Would worship Allah (one god)

9. Who was Muhammad? • From a powerful Meccan family • Took a great interest in religion, prayer and meditation • Felt that a voice, believed to be the Angel Gabriel, told him that he was the messenger of Allah • Began to teach that Allah was the one and only God, this became known as Islam • Those that practiced Islam were Muslims • Muhammad and his messengers were threatened and attacked, so he migrated to a city North of Mecca • Became known as the Hijrah • In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca

10. The Five Pillars of Islam • Faith • Must profess faith in Allah • Prayer • Pray towards Mecca five times a day • Alms • Support the less fortunate • Fasting • During Holy Months • Pilgrimage • Haij to Mecca

11. Muslim Holy Text Qur’an

12. How did islam spread? • Caliph’s of Islam, successors to Muhammad • The first four had great success in the spread of Islam • Muslim armies were well disciplined and commanded • Muslims allowed conquered people to follow their own religion because forced conversion was against the Qur’an • Had to pay a tax each year, in exemption for military duties

13. Sunni and Shi’a Split • Sunni • Believe the first four caliphs were rightly guided • Believe Muslim rulers should follow Muhammad’s example • Claim Shi’a have distorted the Qur’an • Shi’a • Believe that Ali, should have succeeded Muhammad • Believe Muslim leaders should have descended from Muhammad • Claim Sunni had distorted the Qur’an

14. Muslim society • Four social classes • Role of women • Men are over women • Seen as equal as believers • Large emphasis on study and scholarship • House of Wisdom • Art • Calligraphy • Geometric patterns • Strong advances in medicine, math and astronomy