The Rise and Spread of Islam Why Important

The Rise and Spread of Islam

Why Important? ? ? n Islam spread quickly to become one of the world’s most popular religions – Remains so to this day n Muslim merchants played a crucial role in trade and cultural diffusion

Geography Origins: Arabian Peninsula n Mostly desert n Cities on coasts or near an oasis, thrived on trade n – Mecca and Medina most important n http: //www. dkimages. com/discover/previe ws/942/663946. JPG Bedouin tribes controlled caravan routes between cities – Nomadic, clans based on kinship http: //cache. eb. com/eb/image? id=5769&rend. Type. Id=4

Pre-Islamic Arabia n Polytheistic religion, animistic – Some Jewish and Christian influence Strong familial ties n Polygamy n – Some allowed women multiple husbands (polyandry) n Women enjoyed more freedom than those among neighboring cultures (Byzantine Empire and Persians) – Many Bedouin tribes were matrilineal – Women not secluded or veiled n Poetry main form of artistic expression – No written language among Bedouin tribes

Rise of Islam n By 500’s, Arabia was fragmented – Rivalry among Bedouin – Christianity and Judaism increased in influence § Religious disunity n Prophets Arabs began to call for unity among the – Believed a common religion was needed

Muhammad n Born around 570 – Grew up with father’s relatives n Educated to be a merchant – Moved to Mecca as an adolescent § Heavily influenced by monotheistic religion (Judaism and Christianity) n 610: received revelation from Allah – Believed his revelation was the final word of god n Foundations of new religion: Islam – Beliefs and teachings recorded in the Qur’an (Koran)

http: //theinsanityofthesane. files. wordpress. com/2008/05/quran 1. jpg

Muhammad n Teachings unpopular in Mecca at first – Fled to Medina § became skilled politician and spiritual leader – Islamic community became known as umma n Muhammad’s teaching quickly spread – Unified the people of Arabia

http: //spicetrader. net/immortal/mecca-medina. png

Teaching of Muhammad Tenets of Islam n Muslim: follower of Islam n 5 Pillars of Islam – Acceptance of Allah as one true god and Muhammad as his prophet – Prayer 5 times daily in direction of Mecca – Fasting during day-light hours of Ramadan – Charity for the less fortunate – Hajj- pilgrimage to Holy Land

http: //www. theodora. com/wfb/photos/saudi_arabia/grand_mosque_mecca_soudi_arabia_photo_2. jpg

Beliefs of Islam n Islam: – Is monotheistic – promotes equality of all believers in the eyes of God – Encourages charity for the poor – Belief in judgment in the afterlife (paradise or hell) n Islam was an appealing religion that spread quickly

Caliphate n 632: death of Muhammad – Uncertainty about leadership in Muslim community – Some renounced faith due to lack of leadership n Caliph: political and religious successor of Muhammad – Some wanted Ali (Muhammad’s first cousin) to take over – Others felt Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s father-in-law) would be better

Umayyad Caliphate n Abu Bakr of the Umayyad clan became caliph (from 632 -634) – Began to standardize the Islamic faith, oversee compilation of the Qur’an (Koran), reassert Muslim authority among the Arabs – Temporary peace n 656: Civil War erupted after assassination of the 3 rd caliph (Uthman) – – Those who supported Umayya clan won (661) Conflict created a major division among the Muslim community

Sunni-Shi’a Split n Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad clan – Believed the first 3 caliphs had been accurately chosen n Shi’a (Shi’ite) Muslims supported Ali to be caliph – Believed the first 3 caliphs were unfairly chosen n The Sunni-Shi’ite conflict still continues to this day.

Umayyad Caliphate n 632 -750, Umayyad ruled over an Arab Empire n Major Features – Capital in Damascus, Syria – – – Arabic as official language Use of gold & silver coins as currency Muslims enjoyed highest social position § Only pay taxes for charity & received share of wealth from caravans – Most people were dhimmi (non-Muslim) – paid the bulk of taxes – Very little attempt to convert non-Muslims – Established major area of influence in Jerusalem

Umayyad Caliphate n Gender/Family under Umayyad – Muhammad taught respect for women, saw marriage as important social institution § Denounced adultery, forbade female infanticide § Saw men & women as equals in eyes of Allah – Under Umayyad, men allowed 4 wives § Women allowed only 1 husband – Veiling not practiced – Women involved in various occupations (law, commerce, scholars)

Abbasid Caliphate n 750 -1258 n 750: Umayyad overthrown during rebellion – Abbas took over and established the Abbasid Caliphate n Capital at Baghdad n Abbasid was a “Golden Age” for Islam – Court-life, literature, learning

Abbasid Caliphate n Increase in converts during the Abbasid n Urban expansion n Trade boomed – Missionary work to promote conversion – Baghdad became a cultural center and economic hub – Trade routes across the Sahara and throughout the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean – Use of lateen (triangular) sails on ships known as dhows – Extensive trade increased wealth § Reinvested or used to build Mosques, public buildings, religious schools, hospitals (Muslims were unsurpassed in their medical expertise at the time)

Arabian Dhow trade ship Lateen (triangular) sails http: //www. mikewashburn. com/frcamp/dhow. jpg

Abbasid Caliphate n Cities shops were filled with artisan and craft – Unskilled labor performed by slaves § Slavery was not a hereditary condition § Non-Muslims, usually captives from Africa – Qur’an(Koran) forbids enslavement of Muslims, Jews, Christians, or Zoroastrians

Islamic Law: Shari’a n Over time, Muslim scholars developed an Islamic law code n Shari’a – Legal stability and common moral code § Followed to varying degrees

Islamic Learning n Muslim scholars preserved classical works from the Greek and Hellenistic period n Adopted the Indian Numeral system & spread it – Made advances in algebra and trigonometry n Architecture expression became a form of artistic – Mosques with elaborate mosaics inside – Elaborate palaces for entertaining the elite

Dome of Rock- Jerusalem http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock

Declining Position of Women n During the Abbasid, the position of women began to decline – Harems very popular § Legends of harems with thousands of concubines and eunuchs – Veiling and seclusion became popular § Only slave women allowed to appear in public unescorted n However, women did have some rights – Own property, right to divorce and remarry, right to testify in court, and the right to go on hajj

Decline of Abbasid Caliphate n By mid-800’s Abbasid began to lose power n Abbasid also faced outside pressures n Abbasid eventually fell in 1258 – – Internal unrest (Sunni-Shi’ite conflict) Courtly excess became a financial drain Sunni-Shi’ite conflict Revolts by non-Muslims and Turkish slaves (Mamluks) – Seljuk Turks (nomadic group) seized territory to create the Seljuk Sultanate – Crusaders – Mongol Invasion

Muslim Conquests under the Umayyad and Abbasid n Muslims began to engage in campaigns against neighboring empires – To gain wealth and glorify their religion n Seized territory from Byzantine Empire n Territorial gains in: Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Algeria, Morocco – Iberian Peninsula became a hub of leaning and culture within Europe

Spread of Islam n Islam spread quickly – Aided by trade n Expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, the Swahili Coast of East Africa, parts of Europe and Asia n More on this later!!!