The Rise of the Muslim World

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The Rise of the Muslim World

• Part 2 The Spread and Split of Islam

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Expansion and Division

• Muslims were inspired to spread their religion,
  believing that they had a duty to carry the ideas
  of Islam to the world.
• However, there was division over leadership and
  eventually this would divide the Muslim world.
• Despite this, Muslims created an empire that
  included land on 3 continents. This created
  cultural blending that continues to this day.

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Important Dates

• 632 Muhammad dies, Abu-Bakr becomes the first
  caliph and conquers Arabia.
• 634 Abu-Bakr dies, Umar becomes caliph and
  conquers Syria and lower Egypt.
• 656 Uthman murdered, civil war begins.
• 661 Ali assassinated.
• 732 Berbers defeated at the Battle of Tours.
• 750-1258 Abbasid caliphate.

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Islam after Muhammad

• After the death of Muhammad, there was no clear
  successor. Using ancient tribal custom, Abu-Bakr
  was chosen.
• Abu-Bakr was known as the first caliph
  (deputy). He promised to uphold all that
  Muhammad had stood for.
• Some tribes soon abandoned Islam, while others
  refused to pay taxes or declared themselves
  prophets.
• Abu-Bakr declared jihad (striving) against
  non-believers, using armed struggle to encourage
  the expansion of Islam.

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Rightly Guided Caliphs

• Abu-Bakr and his three successors, Umar, Uthman
  and Ali were known as the rightly guided
  caliphs and their rule a caliphate.
• They had all known Muhammad and used the Quran
  and Muhammads actions to guide their actions.
• Under their rule, Muslims would gain control of
  Arabia, Syria, Egypt, and parts of the Sassanid
  (Persian) Empire. By 750, the Muslim Empire
  stretched 6,000 miles.

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The Spread of Islam

• Muslims saw their military victories as evidence
  of Allahs support, drawing inspiration and
  energy from their faith.
• Armies were well-disciplined and expertly
  commanded.
• Additionally, the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires
  had become weak.

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Tolerance and Empire

• Another reason for success was the religious
  persecution of people under Byzantine or Sassanid
  rule.
• Non-Christians/Zoroastrians often welcomed the
  Muslims and chose to convert to Islam and its
  message of equality and hope. Muslims also did
  not pay poll taxes.
• The Quran forbade forced conversion, so Muslims
  were tolerant of other religions.
• People of the book received special
  consideration- they had to pay poll taxes or
  serve in the military, but they could serve in
  the government.

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Umayyads

• After civil war and the death of Ali, a family
  called the Umayyads came to power.
• They moved the capital to Damascus, making it
  easier to rule their territories but alienating
  Arabs, and embraced a lavish lifestyle.

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Islam Splits

• Due to disagreements over leadership and the
  actions of the Umayyads, Islam split.
• Sunni (followers of Muhammads example) Accepted
  the Umayyads as rulers.
• Shia (party of Ali) Resisted the Umayyad rule
  and believed that the caliph needed to be a
  descendant of Muhammad.
• Sufi Rejected the lifestyle of the Umayyads and
  embraced poverty and devotion to a spiritual
  path.

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Sunni v. Shia

• Believe that Ali, the Prophets son-in-law,
  should have succeeded Muhammad
• Believe that all Muslim rulers should be
  descended from Muhammad, do not recognize the
  authority of the Sunna
• Claim that the Sunni have distorted the Quran

• Believe that the first four caliphs were rightly
  guided
• Believe that Muslim rulers should follow the
  Sunna, or Muhammads example
• Claim that the Shia have distorted the Quran

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Abbasids

• The Abbasids were part of a larger rebel group
  that overthrew the Umayyads.
• They murdered the Umayyad family and moved the
  capital to the city of Baghdad.
• This location gave them access to important trade
  routes.
• They developed a strong bureaucracy, sent out
  diplomats, had a treasury to keep track of
  finances. To support all this, they taxed land,
  imports, exports and non-Muslim wealth.

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Berbers and al-Andalus

• One surviving Umayyad prince fled to Spain and
  set up a caliphate there.
• Muslims in Spain were known as Berbers. They had
  advanced within 200 miles of Paris before they
  were halted at the Battle of Tours in 732.
• They established the state of al-Andalus.

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Division of Muslim Lands

• The Abbasids could not keep complete political
  control of their empire.
• Independent states sprung up, with local leaders
  breaking away.
• The Fatimid caliphate was formed by Shia Muslims
  in North Africa.

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Muslim Trade Networks

• Trade linked all the Muslim kingdoms.
• Two major sea networks (Mediterranean Sea and
  Indian Ocean) linked the Muslim Empire to the
  world.
• The land network linked the Silk Roads of China
  and India with Europe and Africa.

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• One language (Arabic) and one currency (Abbasid
  dinar) linked the empire.
• Money changers set up banks in cities, offering
  letters of credit called sakks.
• Cities such as Cordoba, Damascus, Cairo and
  Baghdad blended cultures and promoted the arts
  and sciences.