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Learn about the rise of Islam after Muhammad, the "Rightly-Guided" Caliphs, division into Sunni and Shi'a groups, and the Abbasid dynasty.
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Part II:ISLAM SPREADING
Learning Goals for Today: • Investigate and explain the rise and growth of Islam. • Relate new information to prior learning about Islam.
He Died, What Next? • After Muhammad died in 632 AD, the Umma (Islamic community) had to figure out who the new leader would be. • Muhammad did not leave any instructions on how to choose a new leader. So they elected one. • The Umma elected Muhammad’s friend Abu Bakr as the new Caliph. • Caliph means successor or deputy • A Caliph is a leader of Islam who is meant to take Muhammad’s place. • The first four Caliphs are called the “Rightly-Guided” Caliphs. They all knew Muhammad.
The “Rightly-Guided” Ones • Abu Bakr (632-634) • A friend of Muhammad • Conquered Arabia • Umar (634-644) • A friend of Muhammad • Conquered Syria and Northern Egypt • Uthman (644-656) • A friend of Muhammad • Conquered Iran, Afghanistan, and Armenia • Helped compile the written Qur’an • Assassinated • Ali (656-661) • Cousin and Son-in-Law of Muhammad • Civil War with Muawiyah and the Umayyad family • Assassinated
The “Rightly-Guided” Ones • These men were called the “rightly-guided” Caliphs because: • They knew Muhammad • They were focused on spreading Islam • They spread it with armies, but tried not to force people to become Muslim
After Ali • After Ali was killed, Muawiya and his family the Umayyads came to power and ruled the Islamic empire or Caliphate from 661-750 in Damascus, Syria. • The Umayyad Caliphate was not that popular because they lived like wealthy kings, not humble religious leaders • They controlled territory from Spain to India. • Most Muslims went along with the Umayyads being in power, but not all…
Islam Divided • The majority of Muslims supported the Umayyad Caliphate… they became known as Sunnis (meaning the followers of Muhammad’s example). • Others thought that a descendant of Muhammad should lead the religion/empire. • This group was called Shi’a (meaning the party of Ali). They are called Shi’ites. • Another group of those who focused on the religious and spiritual aspects of Islam were called Sufis. They are sometimes like monks who spend their lives studying Islam. • Major civil wars broke out between the Shi’ites and the Sunnis. Battles still go on today (Syria, Iraq).
Islam’s Caliphates • Because of the Umayyad’s unpopularity, they were kicked out of power in 750. • The group known as the Abbasids then came to power. • The Abbasids killed the rest of the Umayyads (except one who escaped to create his own Umayyad Caliphate in Spain). • The Spanish Umayyads created a kingdom called al-Andalus, which lasted until 1031. They sparked a golden age of art. • The famous Grand Mosque of Cordoba in Spain was created by the Umayyads. It is now a Cathedral.
The Abbasids • The Abbasids moved the capital to the NEW city of Baghdad. Where trade, art, central government, and wealth flourished. • This dynasty or Caliphate was more like the government of a rich King with control over his land than a humble religious leader. • Trade and the economy flourished in and around the empire because of one language (Arabic) and one currency (dinar). • Other groups such as the Shi’a Fatimids wanted to gain power and did gain some power, but they never took over the Abbasids. • The Abbasids lasted until 1250, when the Mongols invaded and sacked Baghdad.
The Role of Arabic in Uniting the People • Wherever Muslims controlled new territory, Arabic spread and became the main language. • The Qur’an was only official in Arabic.Prayers were in Arabic. • The Arabic language spread throughout the Muslim empire and it became the language of the economy and helped trade and daily life be standardized around the empire.