ISLAM

1. ISLAM 600 - 1200

2. Origins • Mecca – caravan city on Arabian Peninsula • Ka’ba – shrine – believed to be site of altar Abraham was to sacrifice his son on • Pilgrimage site for Jews and Christians • Other shrines to local gods also in city

3. Muhammad • Born in Mecca – 570 • Orphaned – raised by uncle • Married Khadija – widow • Meditated in mountains – Angel Gabriel visited • Revelations continued until he died • Shared with family

4. Foundations Muslim – one who makes submission Islam – to the will of God 5 Pillars of faith: -There is no God but God and Muhammed is his prophet - pray 5 times a day - make the hajj to Mecca - give alms to the poor - fast during the month of Ramadan

5. Local Effect • Chased out of Mecca (hijra) • People of Medina welcomed him – settled disputes • Founded an umma – community defined by acceptance of Islam and Muhammad as the “Messenger of God” • Jews and Christians – people of the Book • Respect for them led to praying toward Mecca – site of Ka’ba

10. Return to Mecca • Skirmishes with Mecca – sapped the city’s strength • Led to many in Mecca to see Muhammad as true prophet • Muhammad and followers able to make hajj to Mecca • Had disagreement with Jews, exiled them from Medina • Medina still seen as a holy site

11. Death of Muhammad • 632 – died after brief illness • Medina stayed as special site because of the umma • Abu Bakr – successor to Muhammad • Father of Muhammad’s favorite wife • Close friend • Given title caliph (khalifa) – means successor

12. Quran • The Recitation • Words of God, not Muhammad • Written after Muhammad’s death

13. Leadership • Civil wars break out over who should lead • 3rd Caliph assassinated • Ali – Muhammad’s son-in-law chosen to lead • Leads to more war • Ali ultimately gets killed

14. Shi’ites • Sect who saw Ali as rightful successor • All leaders of Shi’ites claim leaders must be descendants of Muhammad • Caliph seen as more secular than religious

15. Sunna’s • Consider caliphs as Imams • Do not possess power to define true belief • Can’t expel heretics or discipline clergy • Supported 1st three caliphs • Most Muslims of this group (@90%) • Believe that individuals should read and interpret Quran for themselves

16. Caliphates632 - 1258 • 2nd Caliph – Umar • Conquered Syria and Egypt • Defeated last Sasanid shah • 711 – Berbers conquered Spain • 711 – Southern Indus Valley & western India conquered

17. How was Muslim Conquest Achieved? • Social structure of Arab society • Arabs prohibited from owning conquered lands, kept men in the army • Military controlled non Islamic populations, collected taxes • Little effort made to convert conquered people

18. Umayyad Caliphate661 - 750 • Ruled over Arabs, not a religious empire • Muslim Arabs in army • Used locals as secretaries and tax collectors • Later replaced local men with Muslims • Introduced Arab as government language

19. Fall of Umayyad • Dissatisfaction of locals with rule and exclusionary policies • Capital – Damascus – resentment of other Arab people – felt left out • Caliphs seen as irreligious and too secular • Rebellions start to occur

20. Abbasid Caliphate750 - 1258 • Overthrew last Umayyad caliph • Seen as family of Ali – gained Shi’ite support • Theology and religious law foundations of government • Adopted customs of Sasanid shahs • Capital established in Baghdad

21. Golden Age • Early years of Abbasid Caliphate • Translations Greek works • Cultural diffusion – Greek, Iranian, Central Asian, and African cultures blended • Papermaking from China • The Arabian Nights – written at this time • Conversion of conquered people solidified rule

22. Decline of Abbasid • Conversion weakened power base of Arab Caliphs • Frontier revolts too far away to be stopped • As more converted, less need for centralized government • Money stopped flowing into Baghdad

23. Abbasid Reaction • Purchased mamluks – Turkic slaves from central Asians – created standing army • Expensive to keep – Turks overthrew caliphs • Various groups control parts of Islamic empire for next century

24. Seljuk Turks1050 - 1258 • Gained control • Nomadic rule • Let infrastructure of cities crumble • Old system of paying soldiers and managing territories over taxed land and people

25. Crusades1099 • Jerusalem captured by Christians • Muslims forced to stop fighting among themselves and deal with Europeans • Saladin – unified Egypt and Syria • Reclaimed Jerusalem -1187 • Worked out treaty with Richard the Lionhearted • Trade between Europe and Middle East occurred

26. Mongol Invasions • 1260 – mamluks defeated Mongols • Mongols were successful elsewhere – shifted Silk Road trade north • Cities destroyed by Mongols never recovered • Society changed after Mongols arrived

27. Islamic Law • Pre-Muhammad – no legal system • Custom and Muhammad’s authority – primary guides • Slowly developed laws to govern social and religious life • Hadith – words or deeds of Muhammad used to guide life • Personal behavior • Quran – best sources of guidance

28. Shari’a • Books of the hadith • Sunnis use 6 books • Shi’ites use 4 • Became basis of urban lifestyles – little variation from Morocco to India

29. Role of Women • Adopted veiling in public from Sasanid and Byzantine • Law gave women more status than Christian or Jewish law • Inherit property • Could remarry • Could divorce • Practice birth control • Go on pilgrimage

30. Slaves • Allowed non-Muslims to be enslaved • People of the Book – could not be enslaved unless they were prisoners of war • Hereditary slavery did not develop • Offspring of Muslim men and slave women born free

31. Change over Time • Conversion was not organized • Different areas interpreted Islam differently • Iranians start to migrate to India and Anatolia • Set up madrasa – religious colleges • growth of Sufi sect – seek union with God through rituals