The Rise and Spread of Islam Arabian peninsula

The Rise and Spread of Islam

• Arabian peninsula is shaped by bedouin culture, which emphasized: Desert & Town The Pre-Islamic Arabic World – Kin-related clans whic formed larger tribes led by shaykhs – Interclan rivalry for resources – Women playing key roles and enjoying greater relative freedom – A religion that blends animism and polytheism

• Arabian peninsula lies on the periphery of the classical world • Bedouins live by herding; cities develop further south (Mecca and Medina) • Fierce competition and battles over oases and trade routes Towns & Trade

Muhammad and the Birth of Islam • 7 th century C. E. , a new religion arose in the Arabian peninsula. • Built on the revelations received by the prophet Muhammad, Islam won over many camel-herding tribes of the peninsula within decades. • Islam united Arabs under an important ethical system. • Islam’s beliefs and practices (including the five pillars) eventually made it one of the great world religions.

The archangel Gabriel brings the word of God to Muhammad. (Turkish poet - Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet, 1595. ) • Why are paintings like this not accepted in all Muslim societies?

Birth of the Prophet Muhammad Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1594. What scene does this painting resemble? What are the differences?

The Prophet and his companions advancing on Mecca, attended by the angels Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Azrail. Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet 1595. Persecution, Flight & Victory • Muhammad gains a small following but it constantly threatened by the Umayyad • Hijra to Medina creates a loyal core and the return to Mecca makes the new faith permanent

What Islam Offers • One god that transcends all clan rivalries • End to vendettas and feuds under the umma • An ethical system that heals social rifts • A code of law to organize society • An acceptance of the revelations in Judaism and Christianity which makes it easier for Islam to spread

The Death of Muhammad • Many bedouin reject Islam • Conflict over succession • Abu Bakr works to bring people back into the umma • Conquests into the Persian and Byzantine empires garners wealth and spreads Islam • Mourning of the Death of Muhammad Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1595.

The Expansion of Islam http: //wpscms. pearsoncmg. com/wps/media/objects/3052/312 5929/flash/ch 7/ch 07. swf

Umayyad Rule and the Sunni. Shi’a Split • • • Conflict over successors leads to split, which remains to this day Umayyad settle internal disputes and pushed forward into central Asia, northwest India, and southwestern Europe. built an imperial administration with both bureaucracy and military dominated by a Muslim Arab elite. Sunnis believe the successor to Muhammad (caliph)should be chosen by Muslim community Shiites believe that only direct descendants should succeed Muhammad Sufis were missionaries who sought to communicate through rituals, poetry and meditation

Converts and “People of the Book. ” Umayyad policy did not prevent interaction, intermarriage, and conversion between Arabs and their subjects. Most of the conquered peoples were Dhimmis (people of the book). Included Jews and Christians; later Zoroastrians and Hindus. Dhimmis had to pay taxes (jizya) but could retain their own religious and social organization. Shariah- provide laws for everyone to live by (Qadis-judges)(Ulema- jurists)

Family and Gender Roles • • Altered as the Muslim community(Umma) expanded. Initially, the more favorable status of women prevailed over the seclusion and male domination common in the Middle East. Quran stressed the moral and ethical dimensions of marriage. Adultery of both partners was denounced; female infanticide was forbidden. Women could have only one husband, but men were allowed four wives, though all had to be treated equally. Muhammad strengthened women’s legal rights in inheritance and divorce. Both sexes were equal before Allah

Abbasid Era Malwiya Minaret • Focus on luxury and weakened military led to decline of Umayyad • Abbasid clan wins power; led to increased bureaucratic expansion, absolutism, and luxurious living

Accepted Persian ruling concepts Large bureaucracy worked under the wazir, or chief administrator. Mawali were fully integrated into the Muslim community. Most conversions occurred peacefully Abbasid Policies

Town and Country: Commercial Boom & Agrarian Expansion

• Flowering of Islamic Learning Before Islam—no writing/knowledge of the outside world. Receptive to the accomplishments of conquered civs Islamic learning flourished in religion, law, philosophy, sciences and mathematics. Recovered and preserved the works of earlier civs (Greeks) which was passed on to the Christian world.

Global From 600 -1450 , the Arab world Connections Unified under the political Banner of the Caliphate, established A “golden age’ focused on tolerance And adoption and adaption from the Classical world through the continued Interactions across overland Maritime trading networks. • Basis for the first global civilization • Islam becomes one of the great universal religions. • Arabs absorbed precedents from earlier civilizations. • Muslims did the same in the arts and sciences, later contributing to other societies in Europe, Africa, and Asia.