Chapter 8: Rise of Islam

Warm Up Ch 6 and 7Chapter 61. Suttee:2. Importance of Ganges River: 3. Mauryan king spread Buddhism throughout his empireChapter 74. an overland route linking China and the Med Sea5. Empire arises in Iran and Mesopotamia6. Sasanid religion:7. Military technologies in Silk Road:8. Role of Women in trading sea ports:

• I. Origins of Islam– A. The Arabian Pen before Muhammad– Caravans linked cities and gave rise to merchants – Trade brought Arabs into contact with Byzantine

and Sasanid Empires– Nomadic Arabians were polytheistic worshipping

natural forces and celestial bodies, were familiar with other religions

– Mecca: caravan city located between Yemen and Syria, became the center for the Islamic faith

– Ka’ba is the center of city of Mecca, temple for Islamic Worship

– B. Muhammad in Mecca– Muhammad was an orphan who involved himself

in caravan trade– Muhammad was born in Mecca and had a

successful career as a merchant– While traveling on business, Muhammad met

followers of Judaism and Christianity– These faiths influenced his thinking– 610 he was given a revelation from Allah– Message from Allah: Muhammad believed Allah

was the one god and all should submit to him, those who submit go to paradise, those who do not go to hell

– Text of the Islam: Koran, Qur’an

• The Five Pillars of Islam– Belief – profession of faith• “There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is the

messenger of God”• Also makes clear that Muhammad is a prophet, not a

deity– Prayer – perform five daily prayers, always facing Mecca– Giving of alms or charity– Fasting = going without food or drink• Muslims believe that fasting is a way to show that God

is more important than one’s own body– Pilgrimage, called the hajj, to Mecca• Mosque = building in which Muslims worship

– C. The Formation of the Umma– Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina in

622– Umma: followers and coverts from Medina

formed a single community of believers– Caliph: leader of the umma– Caliphate: government established in Islam– Abu Bakr was Muhammad’s father in law and took

leadership of the umma– Muhammad Ali believed he was to be the leader

of the umma– Civil War breaks out and Ali is killed– Shi’ites support Ali– Sunni support Abu Bakr

Muhammad at the Kaaba

Abu Bakr

Ali

• II. Rise and Fall of the Caliphate, 632-1258– A. Islamic Conquest, 634-711– Arabs took Syria, Egypt, and Sasanid Empire,

Tunisia, Spain, Algeria, Morocco– Umayyad and Early Abbasid Caliphates, 661-850– Umayyads were an Arab empire not Muslim, kept

power in Spain– Umayyads fall in Persia and the Abbas took over

and ruled until 1258– Baghdad became center of Abbasid culture

– C. Political Fragmentation, 850-1050– Abbasid empire falls because of communication

and transportation issues– Turkish slave troops called Mamluks were not paid

properly and took control of the caliphate and dominated the government

– D. Assault from Within and Without, 1050-1258– Tension in Spain would eventually lead to the

Crusades

Mamluks

• III. Islamic Civilization– A. Converts and Cities– People converting to Islam wanted to learn more

so they moved to the cities– Urban centers begin to thrive and increase trade– B. Islam, Women, and Slaves– Muslim women: were veiled and secluded, right to

inherit property, right to divorce, remarry, testify, appear in court

– Muslims were not permitted to enslave Muslims, Jews, Christians, or Zoroastrians

– Only POWs were allowed to be slaves

– C. Recentering of Islam– Caliphates begin to decline and new authorities

develop: madrasas and the Sufi– Madrasas: Religious colleges– Sufi: mystic fraternities whose members sought

union with Allah through rituals and trainings– Spiritual guidance and rules for everyday life