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Islam - origins. Quick-Write. How would a young man marrying an older woman impact his view of women?. Muhammad. Orphan of a well-off clan who married an older woman Grew up in time when Arabia was facing outside influences: Byzantine and Sassanid Empires
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Quick-Write • How would a young man marrying an older woman impact his view of women?
Muhammad • Orphan of a well-off clan who married an older woman • Grew up in time when Arabia was facing outside influences: • Byzantine and Sassanid Empires • Migrations of Arabs into surrounding areas where they adopted elements of the culture • Increase in trade and urbanization was increasing social stratification
Arabia religiously divided • Tribal gods meant separate identities • City of Mecca responded by creating a shrine for all the gods – the Ka’ba • Most powerful clan – the Umayyad, didn’t want things to change • Muhammad started to gain followers and threaten the “status quo”; the Umayyad tried to have him killed
The Hijra & rise of Islam • Muhammad & followers fled Mecca to nearby city of Medina • Muhammad made mayor, ran the city well, spread Islam throughout • Muhammad & followers began to spread out, eventually taking over Mecca & winning the submission of the Umayyad
The “Five Pillars” of Islam • No god but Allah, and Muhammad is messenger • Prayer toward Mecca 5x day • Charity/Almsgiving to the needy • Fasting during Ramadan • Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once
A new order • Muslims were from all tribes – formed a single community called the “umma” • Single god, single community, single peace • Islam’s ethical system provided a code of behavior people could rely on -- Equality of all believers -- Charity (zakat)
A new universal religion • Anyone could be Muslim • Other universal religions of the time: Christianity and Buddhism • Spread rapidly among Arabs as the Umma conducted successful military campaigns on the Arabian peninsula • Muhammad’s death in 632 = turning point
Political Islam • On death of Muhammad, Umma met to select a new Caliph – combined political & religious leader • Couldn’t agree: • Blood-line of Muhammad or elected leader? • Ali, a blood relative, lost • Abu Bakr, a close friend, won Support for Ali vs. Abu Bakr = biggest split in the Muslim world: Sunni vs. Shia
New Form of Government - Caliphate • Caliph both a political & religious leader • Muhammad the 1st Caliph • Three Caliphates: Muhammad’s, Ummayad, Abassid
Consolidation & Expansion of Power • Ridda wars fought to bring back Arabs who drifted, expanded Caliphate into Iraq & Syria • Conquered weak Byzantine & Sassanid Empires • Ummayad Caliphate tried to keep non-Arabs from converting – why?