Age of Islamic Conquests

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Age of Islamic Conquests
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Creation of An Arab Empire

• After the death of Muhammad, unity was difficult
  to maintain.
• The friend and father-in-law of Muhammad, Abu
  Bakr, was chosen to be the first Caliph, or
  successor to Muhammad.

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• Abu Bakr helped to unify the Muslim world and
  expanded in Arabia and beyond.
• Under the idea of jihad, or struggle in the way
  of God the early Muslims expanded their
  territory. The believed that defensive warfare
  was permitted by the Quran.

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Arab Rule

• The Arabs were now united and expanded their
  territory instead of fighting each other.
• They defeated the Byzantine army in 636 taking
  the province of Syria. By 642 they took Egypt and
  by 650 they controlled the Persian Empire

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After Abu Bakr died there was conflict over who
would be the next Caliph. The next two Caliphs
were both assassinated. After that Muhammads
son-in-law Ali was appointed Caliph, but five
years later he too was assassinated.
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The Umayyad Dynasty

• At the beginning of the eighth century Islam had
  expanded across northern Africa and had converted
  the Berbers (a pastoral people along the
  Mediterranean coast).
• By 710 combined Berber and Arab forces crossed
  the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain and had taken
  most of the country by 725. In 732, however, the
  Muslim advance into Europe was halted at the
  Battle of Tours just outside of Paris

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Complete Battle of Tours Play

• Assign roles
• Read play from desks

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Discussion

• How would life be different if the Muslims had
  won the Battle of Tours???

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• By 750 the Muslim advance came to an end. The
  southern and eastern Mediterranean and parts of
  the old Roman Empire were now Muslim territory.
• The Umayyad Dynasty was centered in Damascus, in
  modern-day Syria and was wealthy. This was also
  a very diverse empire as many different peoples
  had been conquered in new territory.
• The diversity helped lead to a split within the
  Islamic faith

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The Umayyad Empire
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A Split in Islam

• Many non-Arab Muslims resent the favoritism which
  the Umayyad Empire showed toward Arabs.
• The large empire was difficult to rule
  efficiently and there were financial problems as
  well.

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The Revolt of Hussein

• The grandson of Muhammad, Hussein, led a revolt
  against the Umayyad Empire in 680.
• His solders defected and he was killed by an
  overwhelming Umayyad force.
• This struggle led to a split within the faith of
  Islam between Sunni and Shia (Shiite) Muslims.

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Sunni vs. Shia (Shiite)

• Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad Dynasty.
  They believe the Caliph does not need to be a
  direct descendant of Muhammad.
• Shia Muslims supported Hussein and believe that
  the Caliph should be a direct descendant of
  Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali and his
  grandson.

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Umayyad Architecture
Dome of the Rock
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• the rock is the spotfrom which Muhammad ascended
  to heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel.
  Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to
  pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. After
  Muhammads's return, he called all who would
  believe him to join with him and be Muslim
• For Jews and Christians-site of Abrahams
  sacrifice of Isaac

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The Abbasid Dynasty
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The Crusades

• The Byzantine Emperor Alexius I sent a letter to
  the Pope (Urban II) asking for help against the
  Turks.
• This led to a series of wars in 1096 known as The
  Crusades.
• At first the Crusaders were successful and took
  the city of Jerusalem.
• In 1187 the Muslim leader Saladin retook the
  city, leaving the Christians with only a small
  collection of land holdings in the Middle East.
• The Crusades had a lasting impact-breeding
  centuries of mistrust between the Muslim world
  and the Christian World.

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