Chapter 10

1. Chapter 10

2. The Arabian Peninsula (Bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe)

3. Bedouins • Arabian Peninsula – Harsh Environment(Desert) • Desert people, NOMADS – herded animals, lead them from one fertile spot to another. • Over time, these nomads are called BEDOUINS and begin to live in towns and cities.

4. TRADE BECOMES AN IMPORTANT ACTIVITY • By 600s, trade becomes an important activity in the Arabian Peninsula. • Trade routes ran from south of the peninsula to the Byzantine and Persian empires to the north. • Merchants from these two empires moved along caravan routes • Traded spices and brought new ideas!!!

5. Mecca • During certain holy months, caravans stopped in Mecca • Brought religious pilgrims who came to worship at Ka’aba (ancient shrine) worshiped many gods and spirits • Arabs associated this house of worship with Abraham, Hebrew prophet and believer in one God • Allah – concept of belief in one God (One God of Islam) was known on the Arabian Peninsula

6. Muhammad • Around A.D. 570, Muhammad was born into the mixed religious environment of Mecca where Christians and Jews lived together and practiced monotheism. • At age 40, Muhammad takes an interest in religion and spent time alone in prayer and meditation • He experienced visions, which he understand as messages or revelations from Allah, delivered through Gabriel (also recognized by Jews and Christians as a special messenger from God). • His experience leaves him with the convictions: • Allah – is one and only God and that all other gods must be abandoned. • He rules the universe • Allah was the last of the prophets

7. Islam “submission” • Religion based on Muhammad’s teachings is called: • Islam means “submission to the will of Allah” in Arabic– signifying obedience to the rule and will of Allah, the only deity recognized in the strictly monotheistic Islamic religion. • Islam’s followers are called: • Muslims means “one who has submitted”

8. The Hijrah • 613, Muhammad is preaching publicly – upsets Meccans because they believed his revolutionary ideas would lead to neglect of the traditional Arab gods. Feared Mecca would lose its position as a pilgrimage center if people accepted Muhammad’s monotheistic belief. • THE HIJRAH – 622 – Muhammad and his followers leave Mecca and go to Medina, 200 miles north of Mecca

9. Medina and the return to mecca • In Medina, Muhammad attracts many followers, becomes a political, religious, and military hero. • In 630 – Muhammad and 10,000 of his followers return to Mecca • Most Meccanspledge their loyalty to Muhammad and many converted to Islam • Muhammad dies two years later – he had taken great strides toward unifying the entire Arabian Peninsula under Islam

10. The five pillars • Faith - • Prayer – 5 times a day, Muslims face Mecca to pray. They assemble at a mosque, an Islamic house of worship • Alms – give money to the poor • Fasting – during Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. A simple meal is eaten at the end of the day. Fasting serves to remind Muslims that their spiritual needs are greater than their physical needs. • Pilgrimage – All Muslims who are physically and finacially able perform the hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once. They all wear identical garments so they can stand as equals before Allah.

12. Qur’an – holy book of the muslims • Allah • Gabriel • Muhammad • Qur’an (written in Arabic • And only Arabic can be used in worship

13. Sunna and shari’a • Sunna – Muhammad’s example, (how to apply the Qur’an in life) is the best model for proper living • The guidance of the Qur’an and Sunna was assembled in a body of law known as shari’a • The Shari’a – is a system of law that regulates the family life, moral conduct, and business and community life of Muslims

14. Islam Expands • Muhammad dies in 632 - Muslim community lacked a clear way to choose a new leader. Eventually, the issue of leadership would divide the Muslim world. • Muhammad did not choose a successor or instruct his followers with how to choose one • Therefore, Muslim community elected Abu-Bakr to be their leader, loyal friend of Muhammad • Abu-Bakr – 1st Caliph

15. Rightly guided caliphs • Caliph – a title that means “successor” or “deputy” • After Muhammad’s death, the first four Caliphs were called the “Rightly Guided” Caliphs. • 1st – Abu-Bakr • 2nd – Umar • 3rd – Uthman • 4th - Ali

16. Rightly guided caliphs • Ruled from 632-661 • Abu-Bakr became 1st Caliph after Muhammad’s death. • Ali – last of the Caliphs was a descendant of Muhammad (cousin and son-in-law) • Mobilized highly disciplined armies that conquered Arabia, parts of the Byzantine Empire • Developments in Islam • Spread of Islam East and West • Tolerance of Jews and Christians (Because the Qur’an forbade forced conversion, Muslims allowed conquered peoples to follow their own religion).

17. The Umayyads • Ruled from 661-750 • Came to power after the assassination of Ali, the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty solved the problem of succession, temporarily. • The assassination of Ali and the rise to power of the Umayyads ended the elective system of choosing a caliph • Prominent Meccan Merchant clan • Established their capital at Damascus, Syria. The location made controlling conquered territories easier • Developments in Islam • Split between the Sunni Muslims and the Shi’a Muslims • Today, 83% of Muslims are Sunni and 16% are Shi’a • Development of Suffi movement • Religious and political opposition led to its downfall

18. Under Umayyad Rule – sunni-shi’a split!! Sunni Shi’a • Believe that Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law, should have succeeded Muhammad • Believe that all Muslim rulers should be descended from Muhammad; do not recognize the authority of the Sunna. • Claim that the Sunni have distorted the meaning of various passages in the Qur’an • Believe that the first four caliphs were “rightly guided” • Believe that Muslim rulers should follow the Sunna, or Muhammad’s example • Claim that the Shi’a have distorted the meaning of various passages in the Qur’an

19. Abbasids • Ruled from 750-1258 • Massacred the Umayyads – Abbasids were the most powerful rebel group that opposed the Umayyads • Moved capital to Baghdad – key trade routes • Developments of Islam • Growth of a trade network • Most effective period of rule • Under Caliphs – Islam spreads quickly • Prosperous empire • Problem Faced – They failed to keep complete political control over their immense empire

20. Independent muslim states • Fatimid caliphate • Formed by Shi’a Muslims who claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatima • Began in North Africa • Still connected to the Abbasid caliphate through religion, language, trade and economy

21. Muslim trade network • Major trading networks (Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean)

22. Muslim cities • Umayya Capital • Fatimid Capital • Abbasid Capital • Cordoba • Cairo • Baghdad

23. 4 social classes • Upper Class – Muslims at Birth • Second Class – Converts to Islam • Third Class – “Protected People” Christians and Jews • Fourth Class - Slaves

24. WOMEN • Shari’a gave Muslim women specific rights concerning marriage, family, and property • Muslim women had more economic and property rights than European, Indian, and Chinese women of the same time period. • STILL EXPECTED TO SUBMIT TO MEN!!! • When a man wanted to divorce a woman, all he had to do was repeat three times “I dismiss thee.” Divorce was finalized in three months • Over time, Muslim women were forced to live increasingly isolated lives, when they go out in public, are expected to be veiled

25. House of wisdom • Located in Baghdad • Combination of a library, academy, and translation center • Scholars from different cultures worked side by side translating texts from Greece, India, Persia, and elsewhere into Arabic • Theses scholars were united because of their love of learning

26. Calligraphy • Since Muslims believed that only Allah can create life, images of living being were discouraged. • Thus, many artists turned to calligraphy, the art of beautiful handwriting.

27. MOSQUES

28. Developments during the abbasid reign • Calligraphy • Thousand and One Nights • Algebra • Optics – Vision • The Guide for the Perplexed