Islam I.Islam as a religion II.Islam as an empire III.Spread of
Islam as a universal religion IDs: hadith, sharia, Sufis, Abbasid
Caliphate, 749-945
Slide 2
Argument Although the universal religions spread in similar
ways, they had different relationships with empires. Christianity
took over an empire (Rome); Buddhism spread in spite of an empire
(Tang China); and Islam created an empire.
Slide 3
I. Islam as a Religion A.Origin Allah Muhammad Prophet
Slide 4
B. Texts 1. Quran (Koran, Quran) Orally: 610-632 Written Down:
650
C. Islam in Theory & Practice 1. Theology Five Pillars Hajj
Ramadan Mecca
Slide 7
2. Law: Sharia a.Quran b.Hadith c.Reasoning by analogy
(jurists) d.Consensus of community Qadis Ulama
Slide 8
3. Mysticism: Sufis Meditation Poetry Music dance
Slide 9
Slide 10
II. Islam as an Empire
Slide 11
A. Muslim Arab Conquests, 622-733 Conquered Persian Empire
& southern part of Byzantine Empire
Slide 12
Policies towards Conquered people Tolerance for People of the
Book (Jews & Christians)
Slide 13
B. Political Organization Caliph successor to the Prophet
Caliphate Muslim/Islamic empire
Slide 14
Two Caliphates Umayyad Caliphate (661-749) capital: Damascus
Arab Abbasid Caliphate (749- 945) capital: Baghdad Muslim
(Persian)
Slide 15
After 900, lots of Muslim states in Islamic world.
Slide 16
D. Multiethnic Empire Arab Persian Turk
Slide 17
E. Factors promoting Unity Even after the Muslim world was no
longer governed in one big caliphate, certain factors unified
Muslims despite their different ethnic groups and states Arabic
language hajj support for merchants
Slide 18
Muslim rulers supported cities, merchants, education and
technology The Muslim world was connected by a web of cities
Pilgrims, Sufis, and qadis (legal scholars) carried knowledge
throughout Muslim world
Slide 19
Support for Schools & Research preserved & combined
Greek, Persian & Indian knowledge then built on it
Slide 20
III. Spread of Islam 622-732: by conquest & empire
732-onwards: by trade and missionary journeys
Slide 21
III. Spread of Islam A.Sub-Saharan Africa Merchants Ghana Mali
Swahili Coast
Slide 22
A. Trade & Religion: Islam in Africa Gold-Salt Trade:
Empires of Ghana, Mali & Songhay
Slide 23
B. Islam in SE Asia
Slide 24
C. Islam in South Asia: Conquest & Trade 712: Sind (n.w.
India) by Arab-Persian Muslims 700-1000: Conversion of Turks from
Central Asia to Islam Turks conquer parts of North India