Key TermsBedouins – Nomadic culture based on camel and goat

herding, located in the Arabian Peninsula, made up early convicts of Islam

Sheiks – Leaders (Men) of tribes and clans that had large herds, several wives, many children, numerous retainers

Mecca – Holy Islamic city Medina – Holy city of the prophet of MuhammadKa’ba – Islamic Holy ShrineQuran – Islamic Holy Book. Put together in part by

Muhammad.

zakat – tax levied on all muslims. mandatory and went to charity

Clan Identity, Clan Rivalries, and Cycle of Vengeance

1. Mobile Kin-Related Clansa. Basis of social organizationb. Sheiks

i. Leaders of tribes and clansii. Elected by councils

c. Individual Survival Depended on Clan Loyalty

Towns and long-distance trade 1. Mecca

a. Holy townb. Islamic Pilgrimagesc. Ka’ba holy shrine

2. Medinaa. City of the prophet Muhammadb. 2nd to Mecca

3. Umayyadsa. Clan that founded Mecca

Marriage and Family in Pre-Islamic Arabia

1. Woman a. played key economic roleb. descent was traced through female linec. more restricted in urban areas

2. Mena. on the moveb. paid bride-price to the wife’s family

Poets and Neglected Gods 1. Poetry

a. Transmitted orally

b. Not highly developed

2 . Religion

a. Blend of animism and polytheism

i. Focused mainly on spirits with nature

b. Religion was not connected to ethics

c. Not taken seriously

i. Some recognized Allah, but with little attention

Persecution Flight and Victory 1. Muhammad

a. great threat to Mecca’s rulers

b. New faith endangered Ka’ba gods

2. Life was in danger

a. Invited to Medina to mediate

b. Leadership brought new new followers

3. Quraysh attacked Medina but Muhammad’s forces triumphed

4. Returned to Mecca where he converted most to Islam

Arabs and Islam 1. New Religion

a. offered opportunities for uniting Arabs

i. provided distinct indigenous monotheism

ii. Allowed end to clan feuding

b. offered ethical system

i. healed social rifts

ii. All believers were equal

iii. Prophet’s teachings & Quran became basics for laws

iv. All faced last judgement

Universal Elements in Islam 1. Contained beliefs in many different cultures

a. Included

i. monotheism, legal codes, egalitarianism, strong sense of community

2. Five pillars provided basis for underlying unity

a. Confession of faith

b. prayer five times daily

c. fasting during the month of Ramadan

d. zakat (tithing to charity)

e. the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Overall Importance to World History

The Islam religion had a huge influence over the unity of the Arabs. It was also the religion for all people because it could be practiced by all races and backgrounds. The philosophy of purity in the heart and clarity in the mind was responsible for influencing the nations of the world to better serve God, raise the standards of living, and promote justice and brotherhood.