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The Rise of Islam; 600-1200. World History AP Mr. Ermer Miami Beach Senior High. Islam. One of three Abrahamic, monotheistic religions Judaism & Christianity worship the same God as Muslims Two Branches: Sunnis : ( Sunna =tradition) majority of Muslims
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The Rise of Islam; 600-1200 World History AP Mr. Ermer Miami Beach Senior High
Islam • One of three Abrahamic, monotheistic religions • Judaism & Christianity worship the same God as Muslims • Two Branches: • Sunnis: (Sunna=tradition) majority of Muslims • Shi’ites: (“Party of Ali”) believe caliph descends from Ali • Founder: Muhammad (570-632) • Five Pillars of Islam • Belief: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” • Prayer: Must perform prescribed prayers five times a day • Charity: “giving alms” giving part of one’s wealth to the poor • Fasting: Refraining from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan • Pilgrimage: Must visit Mecca once in life
Islamic Beginnings • Arabia=isolated, populated by semi-nomadic clans of Semitic speaking polytheistic people • Trade routes shift south, Arabs control new routes • Christian and Buddhist missionaries visit area • 570: Muhammad born in Mecca, center of trade • Orphaned by 5, marries rich widow, Khadija • Troubled by economic inequalities, meditates • Visited by Angel Gabriel who reveals God’s words • Muhammad=last prophet in long line (Hebrews & Jesus) • Allah’s messages written in the Quran • Muhammad’s faith called Islam “submission to the will of Allah”; Muslims=“one who submits”
Building the Faith • 622 C.E.: The Hijra • Muhammad & ummaleave Mecca for Yathrib • Population of Yathrib converts to Islam, renamed Medina • Old clan, family, and tribal distinctions replaced by umma • Muhammad defeats Mecca’s army, reenters city • Rededicated Kaaba as Islam’s holiest site • 632: Muhammad dies, Abu Bakrnamed kalifa • Dar al-Islam vs. Dar al-harb • Jihad: struggle in the way of God, personal & external • Caliph: successor of Muhammad, new leaders • First four caliphs expand empire with Bedouin fighters • Take lands from Byzantine Empire, defeat Sasanids • Islam establishes political foundation with generation
The Kaaba The Kaaba
The Umayyad Caliphate • First four caliphs build empire, do not stabilize • Last “rightly guided caliph”—Ali—assassinated • Umayyad clan of Mecca succeeds him • Capital: Damascus, Syria • Hereditary dynasty, religious tolerance • Non-Arabs not allowed to hold high government office • Umayyad Decline • Many non-Arabs resent preference of Arabs • Umayyad rulers increasingly oppressive • Non-Arabs and other Arab clans form coalition • Abbasi clan, under leadership of Abu al Abbas, lead revolt • Umayyad dynasts flee to Spain, est. Iberian caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate • Abbasid caliphs move capital to Baghdad • Located in Arabic-speaking Iraq, but close to non-Arabs • Caliph = religious & political leader • Ulama: Islamic scholars, sharia law, unity of the umma • Sharia covers all aspects of practical and spiritual life • Ulama become law makers guided by Quran and Hadith • Ulamaretains real religious power • Mix of Persian & Byzantine royal norms • Decentralized power, powerful provincial governors • Turkish and Berber soldiers comprise bulk of army • Greek art and philosophy influential, preserved • Breakthroughs in sciences, philosophy, and art
Muslim Opposition • Sunni-Shiite Split • Sunni Muslims (Arabic for “traditional”) • Majority of Muslim World • Accepted rule of Umayyad & Abbasid caliphs • Shiah Muslims (from the Arabic Shi’at Ali “Party of Ali) • Majority in Iraq & Iran with large groups in N. Africa • Believe Ali was the rightful caliph • Ali’s descendants called imams • Both groups have own versions of Sharia & Hadith • Decentralized rule prompts opposition, revolt • Umayyad caliphs continue to rule in Spain • Shiite leader Abu Abdallah takes control of Egypt • Shiite Fatimid Caliphate, capital in Cairo
Women & Islam • Arabs late to adopt patriarchy • Men still married into women’s family, moved close • Women work, own property, multiple husbands • Increased relations with patriarchal Southwest Asians begins to decrease status of women • Muhammad’s relations with women changes • First wife Khadija was older, independent, equal • Muhammad marries more wives after Khadija’s death • Insist wives be veiled, favorite wife Aisha married at nine • Women limited to one husband • Quran reinforces patriarchy • Women given certain rights and protections • Dowries, evidence for moral crimes, infanticide • Women cannot divorce, take multiple husbands
Greater Islamic World • Rival Islamic states try to outdo each other in artistic, intellectual, and scientific achievement • Umayyad Spain • Capital City: Cordoba, Spain • Great Mosque of Cordoba built in arabesque style • Good relations between Muslims, Jews, and Christians • Central Asia • Arabic numerals, Algebra, IbnSina and medicine • Greek philosophy translated into Arabic • Sub-Saharan Africa • Trade & Islam expanded to West Africa • Swahili Coast • Gold, salt, and slaves