Key Terms – Belief Systems

Mohammed/Muhammad Hegira Qu'ran The Five Pillars of Faith Jihad Caliphate The Umayaad Caliphate Sunnis Shi'ites The Abbassid Caliphate Key Terms – Belief Systems • Judaism • Abraham • The Ten Commandments • The Old Testament • Christianity • Jesus Christ • The New Testament • Islam

Judaism • Founded by Abraham → based upon the covenant he had with God (loyal followers in exchange for the Promised Land) • Based around Jerusalem in the Middle East • Built a small kingdom that would be dominated by larger forces such as the Romans

Judaism – Sacred Texts • Sacred Text → the Torah and the Old Testament • God was more fierce and vengeful • Life revolved around the Ten Commandments → rules/guidelines for behavior for Christians and Hebrews.

Christianity • Founded by the followers of Jesus Christ → Christian Messiah (son of God,chosen one) who was born between 7 BC and 4 BC and lived to 33 A.D. • Also based around Jerusalem. • Acquired a large amount of followers through the works of his missionaries known as apostles.

Christianity – Sacred Texts • Sacred Text for Christians was the Bible → composition of the Old Testament and New Testament. • New Testament → works of Jesus' apostles and their interpretations of Jesus' life. • God was forgiving and accommodating in the New Testament.

Islam • Islam → Arabic word for 'submit'; faith based on the works of the prophet Mohammed. • Mohammed → prophet who initiated the Islamic faith. • Sacred text of the Islamic faith was the Qu'ran

Mohammed's History • Mohammed was a merchant and lived in a town known as Mecca. • Would refuse the Bedouin (traveling caravan group) polytheistic beliefs and would find more truth in monotheistic beliefs. • Upon introduction of his ideas he would be forced to flee Mecca. His flight from Mecca to Medina would be known as the hegira. • Mohammed would return with a group of followers and establish the Islamic faith after removing all of the polytheistic idols in the churches of Mecca.

The Five Pillars of Faith • Muslims (Islamic followers) were to abide by the Five Pillars of Faith (guidelines for life in the Muslim faith). • Were seen as requirements to fulfill their religious duties: • Faith → submit to Allah • Prayer → pray 5x a day facing Mecca • Hajj → make one pilgrimage to Mecca • Alms → give to charity • Fasting → fast during the month of Ramadaan

The Umayyad Caliphate (631-750) • Islamic groups would organize into political organizations known as caliphates → large tracts of territory governed by caliphs (rulers/followers of Mohammed) • Were tolerant rulers → allowed followers of other religions in their empire but gave them lower class status.

Umayyad Caliphate (cont.) • Breakdown of government led to a breakdown of Muslim society. • Upon the murder of Ali, a selected successor of Mohammed, a new faction of Muslims appeared known as Shi'ites (those that believe Mohammed's relatives should rule) • Umayyad rulers were Sunni Muslims (Muslims who believed that rulers did not have to descend from Mohammed) • Abbassids would use the luxurious lifestyles of the Umayyads as a weapon to remove them from power.

The Abbassid Caliphate (750-1258) • Abbassids would force out the Umayyads and begin to kill all relatives of the dynasty. • Many Umayyads would move to Spain and establish a Muslim kingdom centered around Grenada. • Eastern orientation of the new dynasty changed the cultural influences (From Damascus to Baghdad)

End of Abbassid Dynasty • Oppressive rule of the Abbassids led to constant infighting and banditry that would cut off sources of income to the kingdom. • Would be forced out of the east by Mongols, ended the Abbassid Dynasty. • Only the rulers of the west remained until the return of the Eastern Islamic peoples.

Key Terms – Belief Systems