The Origins and Spread of Islam: Muhammad, Faith, and Empire

1. “Actually, in its purest form, Islam is incredibly tolerant. That makes what's going on in the world really bizarre.” - Steve EarleBanging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

4. The Origins of Islam Main Idea Muhammad, a merchant whom Muslims believe was the last prophet, reported that he received messages from God. The religion he taught—Islam—drew many followers.

5. The Setting Religious Function • Farming limited in Arabia • Commerce lively • Trade routes converged at Arabian Peninsula • Ideas as well as merchandise exchanged • Trade-dependent towns rose near coasts • Mecca, near Red Sea, most important of coastal towns • The Kaaba, cube-shaped structure, at heart of Mecca • 500s, already ancient, considered sacred • Possible meteorite built into one wall, “relic from heaven” • Idols of local gods inside • Site drew religious pilgrims • One god considered supreme: Allah The Arabian Peninsula Arabia was sparsely populated 1,500 years ago. Small bands of bedouins moved their herds between scattered oases in the desert.

9. Muhammad’s Faith Early Life • Had always been religious man, but faiths of others probably also influenced Muhammad’s thinking • Took frequent spiritual retreats • Angel appeared to him during retreat, commanded him to speak messages from Allah • Muhammad disturbed by visitation, unsure of meaning • After more visits from angel, Muhammad concluded God had chosen him to be prophet • Muhammad ibn Abd Allah born 570 • Parents died, Muhammad raised by uncle, powerful clan leader • Grew up to have successful career in Mecca as merchant • Married to older woman at age 25, fathered seven children, all but one of whom died young • Met followers of Judaism, Christianity while traveling on business Muhammad the Messenger

11. Sharing the Revelations • Hegira • 622, Muhammad moved to Yathrib, came to be called Medina, “the Prophet’s City”; journey from Mecca to Medina came to be known as hegira • Later Muslims marked year of hegira as first year of Islamic calendar • Building Faith • Muhammad spent decade building community of fellow believers • Called faithIslam, meaning “achieving peace through submission to God” • Followers known as Muslims • Mecca • People of Mecca who wanted Muhammad stopped did not give up • Fought several battles with Muhammad, followers, ultimately lost ground • 630, Muhammad controlled Mecca, influence unmatched

13. Qur’an Five Pillars of Islam • Muslims read from Qur’an to hear Allah’s teachings • Seek religious experience in rhythm, beauty of words • Full meaning known only in original Arabic language • Translations not true representation • Five basic acts of worship central to Islam, Five Pillars of Islam • Profession of faith • Performance of five daily prayers • Giving of alms to poor, needy • Fasting during month of Ramadan • Make pilgrimage to Mecca Basic Ideas of Islam • As Muhammad gained political power, revelations continued • Muhammad could not read, write; recited revelations • Followers memorized words, some wrote them down • Writings Muslims believe as direct revelations from God collected in Qur’an, sacred test of Islam

15. “I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill.” • Mahatma Gandhi Your thumb is the same length as your nose.

16. The Spread of Islam Main Idea After Muhammad’s death, Islam spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, shaping a major empire within 100 years. While the empire eventually broke into smaller parts, Islam continued to spread.

17. Muhammad’s Successors Priorities Expansion of Territory • Muhammad had not named successor • No clear candidate • Abu Bakr, close companion, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor” • Abu Bakr focused on bringing back bedouin tribes • Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control • Reunified Arabia, led forces north • Abu Bakr, successor Umar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly • 637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq • 642 victory over Persian Empire complete • 661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East Islam after Muhammad’s Death The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Who would lead the group and keep it unified? The answer affected the faith’s spread and its future.

18. Abu Bakr

19. Umar

20. Sunnis and Shias Ali’s Troubles • Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph, Mu’awiya • Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet” • Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads. • Became known as the Shia, “party of Ali” • Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular • Uthman killed by rebels • Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun • Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control Civil War • Internal Conflict and Division • Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph. Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali • 644, Ali lost to Uthman, supported by powerful Meccaclan Umayyad

21. Ali

22. Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam Imam means “leader” For the shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an. The Shia and Imams

24. The expansion of the caliphate under the Umayyads. Maroon - Expansion under Muhammad, 622-632 – Salmon - Expansion during the Rashidun Caliphate, 632-661 – Yellow - Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750

25. The Umayyad Dynasty Continued Expansion End of the Umayyads • Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn • Achievements: Arabic as official language, uniform coinage, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem • Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however • Shia continued opposition, unrest among conquered people, some Arab tribes • Umayyads weakened by discontent, time ripe for rebellion • Abbasids, led by descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, united many Umayyad opponents by appearing to support their causes • Abbasids wiped out Umayyads in series of battles, late 740s • Caliphate entered Abbasid dynasty Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim rule spread. Internal problems weakened the Umayyads, though, and led to their fall.

28. The Abbasid Dynasty • Baghdad • Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor • Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq • Persian Influence • Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world • Abbasids adopted Persian style of government • Government • Rulers cut off from people • Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen • Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state • Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences • Change in Islam • Nature of Islam changed • Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures • Islam spread through trade

30. Contrast How did the Abbasids differ from the Umayyads? Answer(s): The Abbasids focused more on prosperity and cultural advancement than on empire expansion.

31. Challenges from Europe Problems from Egypt • European Christians weakened Muslim rule • Christian armies began to drive Muslims out of Spain, 1000s • European Christians began Crusades • Wanted to make Holy Land Christian, won at first • Muslims eventually retook Jerusalem • 969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt • Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah • From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea • Disrupted Abbasid trade • Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids The End of Unity As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate.

35. Seljuk Turks and Others • Seljuk Turks • Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks • 1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad • Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph • War Against Byzantine Empire • Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert • Seljuks would go on to create own empire • Mamluks and Mongols • 1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria • 1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished • Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia

39. Society and Culture Main Idea For the first Muslims, Islam was more than a religion. It was a guide to political, social and cultural life. The early Muslims responded with spectacular achievement in many fields.

41. Translations • Through translations from Greek, texts from Hippocrates, Euclid, Galen, Ptolemy made available to new audiences • Texts stimulated further study throughout Muslim world • Influence of texts extended to Europe; eventually translated into Latin, made available to European scholars • Muslim scholars made significant contributions in the following fields: astronomy (calendar and astrolabe), mathematics (algebra and trigonometry), medicine, geography, history, arts, literature (calligraphy, Qur’an, Arabian Nights), and architecture Muslim Scholarship Learning added to Muslim cultural unity. Scholars made essential contributions in several fields. Many later European intellectual achievements grew out of the work of Muslim scholars.

48. The Ottoman and Safavid Empires Main Idea The Ottoman and Safavid empires flourished under powerful rulers who expanded the territory and cultural influence of their empires.

49. Growth of the Empire Ottomans • Early 1300s, Anatolia bordered by declining Christian Byzantine Empire to west, Muslim empires to east; to north, Russia • Turks of Anatolia mainly Muslim, nomadic, militaristic society • Nomadic people, ghazis, “warriors for the Islam faith” • Ghazi leader Osman I had built strong state in Anatolia by 1300 • Osman, descendants came to be known as Ottomansto Westerners The Ottoman Empire Mongol conquests of the 1200s ripped apart the Seljuk Turk empire. Small, independent Turkish states formed in the region. In the late 1200s, a great chieftain arose from one of the states and went on to found the powerful Ottoman Empire. Their power grew quickly, and by the mid-1300s the Ottomans controlled much of Anatolia.