Byzantine Empire Rise of Islam CHAPTER 6 Byzantine

Byzantine Empire & Rise of Islam CHAPTER 6

Byzantine Empire • 330 AD Emperor Constantine dedicates new capital of Rome – Constantinople (“New Rome”) • Meeting place between East & West; linking land sea trade routes – commercial center • Political & religious center • Took the name from the Greek city of Byzantium

Emperor Justinian • Great period of Byzantine Empire is during emperor Justinian (527 -565) • Greatly helped by his wife Theodora • Nikka Revolt: turning point in Justinian’s reign; he crushes the revolt and firmly establishes his rule over empire • Wanted restore the greatness of the Roman Empire

Justinian Code - Law • Most important achievement – preservation of Roman Law • Reorganized the law from Ancient Rome and clarified them; this became the “Justinian Code” • Also “Golden Age” of Byzantine culture – to construct churches, buildings, roads • “Haga Sophia” (meaning Holy Wisdom)

Split of East & West Church • Bishop of Rome (later the pope) is the most important religious leader in the West • Patriarch of Constantinople holds the position for the East • After Constantine, East & West Church become rivals

Split of East & West Church • Differ over issues like when to celebrate Easter, whether priests should marry, and whether to use icons (painted images of Christ and saints) which some thought idolatrous • Church of East emerged as state church

Empire Under Siege • Byzantine was threatened by the Arab Muslims • Constantinople defended Arabs using a new weapon called “Greek fire” – explosive mixture of oil, sulphur, saltpeter • Military success under Basil II (976 -1025) known as “Bulgar Slayer” because he crushed the Bulgars in the Balkan region

Rise of Islam • Cradle of Islam is the region of Arabia – lies between Asia & Africa • Arabs are descendants of Ishmael – son of Abraham through Hagar • Gen. 17: 20 “I will make him a great nation” • Bedouins: nomads who roamed the desert in search of pasture and water • Arabs had no central government; loyal to tribe

Rise of Islam • Islam means “submission Muslims mean “submitters to Allah” • Founder of Islam: Muhammad (570 -632) • Born in Mecca into a poor family; orphaned at age 6 • Marries his wealthy employer 15 yrs older • Deeply influenced by monotheism of Christianity and Judaism

Rise of Islam • Receives vision from Gabriel • Considers himself a messenger of God and prophet • Muhammad is ridiculed by peers in Mecca • Mecca was a leading trade center which held Kaaba – sacred shrine that housed hundreds of pagan idols • Kicked out because he preaches monotheism

Rise of Islam • Muhammad flees to Medina – move known as Hegira or “flight” • At Medina, followers of Muhammad increase rapidly and he becomes the political, military, and religious leader • Comes back to Mecca and destroys Kaaba to make it an Islamic center

Teachings of Islam • Koran: sacred book of Muslims • Composed of 114 chapters (suras) and prime authority on Muslim belief • According to Koran, Allah sent 100, 000 prophets to reveal his will and Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet

Five Pillars • 5 Pillars 1. Shahadah: thesis of Islam “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. ” 2. Salat: “prayers” – praying 5 times a day facing Mecca 3. Zakat: “purification” – alms (money) given to the poor

Five Pillars • 5 Pillars 4. Sawm: fast that Muslims observe from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan 5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime

Spread of Islam • Muhammad did not point a successor • First 4 successors were called “caliphs” and the first caliph was Abu Bakr (father of one of Muhammad’s wives) • Reasons for rapid Expansion of Islam 1. Desire for fertile land 2. Byzantine & Persian empires were already weak 3. Each conquest was viewed as “jihad” (holy war) and their fervor produced a fighting spirit

Spread of Islam • 661 AD Muslim general becomes caliph and establishes Umayyads rule • Moves capital from Mecca to Damascus • Continues arab expansion to North Africa, India, Constantinople, and invades Spain • Finally stopped by Franks at the Battle of Tours (732 AD) which stops Muslim advance into Europe

Muslim Culture • Most famous muslim poet: Omar Khayyam • Mathematics: muslims borrowed their math knowledge from India • Medicine: developed new medical procedures • Muslim physicians: al-Razi, ibn Sina

In Class Exercise # Page 2 1. What is your opinion of the Quran verses? # Page 3 2. What is your opinion of the 5 Pillars? # Page 5 -6 3. What helped the spread of Islam? 4. What conditions encourage Islamic Trade?