The arabian Peninsula

1. The arabian Peninsula Religion, Politics and Oil

2. Abraham’s Genealogy HAGAR ABRAHAM SARAH Ishmael Isaac 12 Arabian Tribes Jacob Esau 12 Tribes of Israel

3. Islam changes desert culture • Towns served as trade centers for caravans (oases) • Silk Road ports • Bedouins move across peninsula for oasis to oasis • Culture based on family ties • Fought one another for control of lands • Worshipped many gods (desert demons) • Prophet Mohammad (570-632AD) comes along with Islam • Raised as a trader from Mecca • Known to be very honest as a trader • Marries Khadija ( wealthy widow who ran her own caravan) • Questioned idolatry of Meccans

4. Mohammad Cont’d • Visited by Angel Gabriel in the HiraCave • Questioned why him . . . Khadija encouraged him to accept his fate • Begins spreading Islam but is rejected by Meccansbecause of the monotheistic nature and the idea of almsgiving to the poor

5. Mohammad Cont’d • Goes to Yathribon Hijra in 622 AD (year 1 in the Islamic Calender) • City renames itself Medina “city of the prophet” • Returns to Mecca in 630 AD after much success • Destroys the idols around the Kaaba • Establishes first Muslim Empire

6. Mohammad Cont’d • Works to unite Arabs under Islam • 632 AD, Mohammad dies • Rises into Heaven • The Dome of the Rock

8. Foundations of Islam • 5 Pillars • Faith (Shahadah) – “There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet” • Prayer (Salat) – 5x a day facing Mecca; Mosque • Fasting (Sawm) – no food or drink from sunup to sundown during Ramadan • Charity (Zakat) – giving money to the poor • Pilgrimage (Hajj) – all Muslims must make at least one trip to Mecca

9. Foundations Cont’d • Holy Book is the Koran • Shari’a – Islamic laws • Jihad • Lesser – throughout the world • Greater – within oneself • People of the Book • Muslim, Christians and Jews all Worship the same God • Historically enjoy religious freedom under Muslims

10. Muhammad’s Arabia

11. Spread of Islam

12. Building an Empire • Abu Bakr • Mohammad’s father-in-law took over control • Called caliph (successor of Mohammad) • “If you worship Mohammad, Mohammad is dead. If you worship God, God is alive.” • First of the 4 “rightly guided caliphs” • Expanded the empire across the Arabian Peninsula, unites all Arabs through wars

13. Building an Empire • Defeated parts of the Byzantine Empire and all of the Persian Empire • United Arabs took provinces in Syria and Palestine, including Damascus and Jerusalem, from Byzantines • Captured all of the weakened Persian Empire

14. Sunni – Shi’a (Shi’ite) Split • Disagreement amongst Muslims over who should lead • Shi’a believe the next caliph should be descendant of Mohammad • The Party of Ali (4 caliph who was murdered by Ummayads) • Minority within Islam • Sunni believe the next caliph should be a pious, elected official • Majority party within Islam

16. Umayyads • Meccan clan who set up new caliphate • Move capital from Mecca to Damascus • Most expansive conquests from Spain and Morocco in the west To the Indus River Valley in the east • Why? • Weakness of Byzantines and Persians • People welcomed Arabs as liberators • Bold, efficient fighting methods on horse and camel that overwhelmed traditional armies • Set up orderly system of administration

17. Umayyads Cont’d • Conquered people treated fairly • Paid special non-Muslim tax, but allowed to worship as they pleased • Did not attempt to convert (People of the Book) • Jews and Christians play special role as officials • Many converted to Islam for political favor but also because of the simple message of Islam • Decline of Umayyads • Large empire proved difficult to rule for former nomads • Inequality for non-Arabs officials • Economic tensions and luxurious lifestyle of caliphs drain $$ • Many criticized caliphate in Damascus for straying from beliefs

18. Abbasids • Abu al-Abbas conquered Damascus in 750 AD • Move capital to Baghdad • Concentrate on learning and scholarship Seljuk Turks take Control, 900s

19. Islamic Holy Places: Jerusalem Dome of the Rock Al-Aqsa Mosque