Spread of Islam

Where did Islam Spread?Diffusion along trade routes from Mecca and Medina

Fertile Crescent, N. Africa, Asia(weak Byzantine and Persian Empires)

Arabic language spread

Why Did Islam Spread?

Reasons for appeal:1. simple, direct

message2. equality of all

believers3. based on oral

traditions – did not need to be literate

spread quickly along trade routes, w/ military victories

How did Islam Spread?

• Muhammad issues jihad – “Holy War”• After Muhammad’s death, who should

rule????• Caliph = Successor• Each Caliph was elected• Qu’ran as guide

4 Rightly Guided Caliphs632-661 CE

• Abu Bakr:• Unites Arabia• Writes down Qur’an

• Umar:• Conquers Syria, Egypt & parts of Persia

• Uthman & Ali:• By 750, empires went from Atlantic Ocean to Indus

Valley, including Spain• Division of Muslims about who should rule

– Sunni & Shi’a (Shiites)

Why Were the Caliphs Successful?

1. disciplined armies2. weak Byzantine and Persian Empires3. persecuted people welcomed them as

liberators4. Message appealing5. no payment of Tax

Umayyad Dynasty661-750 CE

• Moved capital to Damascus• Caliphs chosen by heredity• Abandoned simple life -- Surrounded

themselves with wealth– (Simple life wealthy life)

• These facts lead to a fundamental division in Muslim community

Sunni – Shi’a Split

Support all four Calpihs

Any religious person can interpret Qu’ran

80% of Muslims

Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia

Party of Ali

Calpihs – direct descendants of Muhammad

Only Imam can interpret Qu’ran

20% of Muslims

Iran

Shi’as – Shiites

Sunnis

Abbasid Dynasty750-1258 CE

• 750 CE – Abbasids take over• Murder remaining Umayyads• Move capital to Baghdad – center of family

power• Religious leaders helped control empire

Spread of Islam• Across Asia and Africa, and into Spain

Islamic Holy Cities

• Mecca – site of Ka’aba• Medina – city of prophet – Hijrah• Jerusalem – Dome of the Rock – Muhammad

ascends to heaven.

Mecca

Medina

Jerusalem

Historical Turning Points1. Death of Ali - Sunni-Shi’a division

– Who should lead Islam?

2. Muslim conquest of Damascus– Umayyad Dynasty

3. Islamic capital moved to Baghdad– Abbasid Dynasty

4. Muslim defeat at the Battle of Tours – 732 CE– Stopped Spread of Islam into Europe

5. Fall of Baghdad to the Mongols – 1258 CE– End of Islamic Empire

The Spread of Islam2

1. For each group of rulers, identify the period of their rule and at least two developments that affected the growth or strength of Islam during that period.

Section 2 Assessment

continued . . .

HOME

Rightly Guided Caliphs

Umayyads

Abbasids

Rulers Developments in IslamPeriod of Rule

632-661

661-750

750-1258

Spread of Islam east and west, tolerance of Jews and Christians

Shift of capital to Baghdad, growth of Muslim trade network

Split between Sunni and Shi’a, development of Sufi movement

GRAPH

Jews Believe

Muslims Believe

Christians BelieveAll Believe

Think About:•Founding•Major branches•Holy Book•Law•Teachings•Prophets•Place of worship

Pre-AP: write a thesis statement comparing and contrasting the three monotheistic religions