Muhammad had not named successor No clear candidate

1. 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 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.

2. More Expansion • More Expansion • After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west • Byantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem • 639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule • Empire • Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire • Conquests continued under later caliphs • 661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East • 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 again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Meccaclan Umayyad

3. Sunnis and Shias Ali’s Troubles • Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph • Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet” • Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads. • Became known as the Shiites, “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

4. 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 Shiites, only imams can interpret the Qur’an. The Shiites and Imams

5. Conflict • Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shiites after deaths of Mu’awiya and Ali • Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim • Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid • Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq • Further Division • Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shiites have remained bitter • Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis • Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals

7. Find the Main Idea What was the result of the succession conflict? Answer(s): Two different Muslim groups emerged—the Sunni and the Shiites

8. Continued Expansion Military Conquests • Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn • Achievements: • Established Arabic as official language • Made coinage uniform throughout empire • Began first great work of Islamic architecture, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem • Armies conquered territory to borders of China, Indus River Valley, to east • Took northern Africa, most of Spain, to west • Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however The Umayyad Dynasty Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim rule spread. Internal problems weakened the Umayyads, though, and led to their fall.

9. End of the Umayyads Rebellion • Displeasure with Umayyads widespread • Shiites continued opposition • Also 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 Ruling the Empire • Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size • Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered • Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality • Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition

10. Sequence What events brought about the end of the Umayyad dynasty? Answer(s): A family called the Abbasids took advantage of discontent with the Umayyads and established a new caliphate.

11. 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 • Change in Islam • Nature of Islam changed • Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures

12. Funding for Change Importance of Trade • Trade helped fund cultural achievement • Most prominent Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, helped bring culture to great heights, 786 to 809 • Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences • Islam spread through trade • Muslim traders journeyed from end to end of caliphate, exchanging goods and information • Exchange brought Islam to West Africa, Southeast Asia A Changing Culture

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

14. 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.

15. 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

17. Summarize What forces ended the unity of the caliphate? Answer(s): Abbasids lost political power when small independent states broke away.