The Rise of Islam

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The Rise of Islam

• AP World History

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The Arabs

• Semitic speaking people of the Middle East
• Nomads who moved regularly to find water and food
• Settled in the Arabian peninsula
• desert land
• lack of rivers and lakes

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The Arabs

• Organized into independent clans/tribes to help
  one another with the harsh environment
• Each tribe had a sheikh
• Developed the caravan trade and were major
  carriers of trade from the Persian Gulf to the
  Mediterranean Sea
• Conflict over water pasture land w/warrior
  culture

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The Arabs

• Early Arabs were polytheistic
• Allah (Arabic for God) was worshipped as a
  supreme god over other gods
• Each tribe had a sacred stone that was worshipped
  as a symbol of Allah

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The Arabs

• Mecca grew as a result of the caravan trade and
  the worship of the Black Stone (meteorite) in a
  central shrine called the Kabah
• Tensions arose between Bedouins the wealthier
  merchants from Mecca
• Umayyad tribe controlled Mecca (monotheistic -
  believed in Allah)

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The Life ofMuhammad
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Early Life

• Born in Mecca in 570 A.D. to a merchant family
• Was an orphan, but grew up to become a caravan
  manager contact with Jews Christians
• Married a rich widow named Khadija bothered by
  class inequalities rivalries
• Experienced visions and was visited by the angel
  Gabriel
• Came to believe that he received the final
  revelations of Allah (God)

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Early Spread of Islam

• His followers (only 30) were persecuted so he
  leaves on the Hegira (to Medina).
• He gains support in Medina and among the Bedouin
  tribes.
• The first Muslim community (Umma)is formed here.

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Conquering of Mecca

• 630 Muhammad conquers Mecca declares the Kabah a
  holy shrine.
• He removes the tribal idols, but keeps the Black
  Stone.
• Muhammad becomes the religious and political
  leader .

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Why was Islam Attractive?

• Equality
• no intermediaries
• End to vendettas feuds
• Single authority

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Spread of Islam

• Muhammad dies in 632 A.D.
• Left no clear successor or heir
• The position of Caliph (Muslim leader) is
  established
• Abu Bakr (1st Caliph) close friend/ 1st to
  convert outside of family
• Sought to protect and spread Islam (Persia
  Byzantine Empire)
• Weakness of adversaries, unity of faith,
  contribute to Arab conquest

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The 5 Pillars of Islam
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1. Profession of Faith(Shahada)

• There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His
  Prophet

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2. Prayer(Salat)

• Practiced five times a day, according to a set
  ritual.

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3. Almsgiving(Zakat)

• One traditionally donates a portion of ones
  income.

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4. Fasting(Sawm)

• Done during daylight hours in the month of
  Ramadan.

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5. Pilgrimage(Hajj)

• A pilgrimage to Mecca is made once during ones
  lifetime.

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Divisions Within Islam

• Rival groups begin competing for the Caliphate
• The 4th Caliph (Ali) was assassinated
• Alis rival begins the Umayyad dynasty as the new
  caliph
• Capital is moved from Medina to Damascus
• Led to a split in Islam Sunnis, supported the
  Umayyad (political succession) - and Shiites,
  supported Ali (Muhammads bloodline/religious
  succession)

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Sunnis Shiites

• Sunnis
• Believed the caliph was primarily a leader and
  any devout Muslim could serve in the office with
  the acceptance of the people
• 90 of Muslims today are Sunnis

• Shiites
• Believed the caliph was primarily a religious
  authority and should be held only by the
  descendants of Muhammad
• 10 of Muslims today are Shiites (most are in
  Iran, Iraq, Lebanon)

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Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)

• Emphasized Arab ethnicity over adherence to Islam
• Converts to Islam were considered inferior
• Respect for Jews and Christians (allowed freedom
  of worship and self rule within their own
  communities). Sometimes required to pay taxes
  for charity and on property
• Ruling families lived excessively prompting riots
  and ultimately their downfall

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Conquests

• Pushed east to borders of India China
• Umayyad capital is Damascus
• 747 A.D. anti-Umayyad dynasty is established
  (Abbasid)
• Abbasid capital is Baghdad

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Abbasid Dynasty (750-945)

• Succession disputes
• Converts were appreciated education available
  and career advancement
• Shia dissention
• Civil violence drains imperial treasury
• Revolts and slavery increased
• Trade with the western Mediterranean to China
• Greek, Roman, and Persian learning was preserved.
  Greek logic, esp. Aristotle was valued.
• Arabic numbers (from India)
• Mathematics algebra, geometry, trigonometry
• Astrolabe measured stars (used in navigation)
• Zenith of Islamic culture

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Abbasid Dynasty (750-945)

• Excelled in astronomy, optic surgery, anatomy,
  cartography
• Rise of urban centers Baghdad, Cairo, and
  Córdoba with institutes of higher learning
• Arts, calligraphy, and arabesques in writing and
  on pottery
• Architecture buildings w/patios, mosques
  w/minarets
• Literature The Arabian Nights
• Position of women decline (influenced by Persian
  culture)
• Sufis mystics who focused on an emotional union
  with Allah become missionaries

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Women In Islam

• Early days of Islam women were not required to
  wear the veil not secluded
• Up to four wives allowed since the time of
  Muhammad women - only one husband
• In general Islamic women had more rights than
  other women of the same time
• Equal with men before Allah
• Female infanticide forbidden
• Could own property (before after marriage)
• In some cases could divorce husband
• Eventual isolation created barriers to acceptance
  of Islam, especially in Africa

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Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain)

• Berbers of North Africa spread Islam into Europe
  by conquest
• Stopped at the Battle of Tours/Poitiers (France)
  in 732
• Allies of the Umayyad Dynasty
• Preserved Greco-Roman culture
• Interregional trade flourished
• Muslim architecture in Spain