The Birth of Islam Chapter 9 200-1200

1. The Birth of IslamChapter 9200-1200

2. What factors contributed to the rise of Islam? • I. Arabian Peninsula • Harsh desert • Bedouins: nomads that herded camels and goats • Clans were the basis of society-rivalry • II. Muhammad • Born 570 CE in Mecca a leading commercial center • Founder of Islam • 610 has his first revelation, met an angel Gabriel • considered a prophet of God

3. III. Mecca to Medina • In Mecca he was seen as a threat • Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in 622- Hijra • Organizes the umma: Islamic communities that accept him as a messenger • 629 mawali: non-Arab converts to Islam • 630 makes trip back to Mecca • 632 dies without a successor...But all of Arabia is under Muslim control   • IV. Beliefs of Islam • Monotheistic • Allah the one true god • Koran or Quran the Islamic holy book • Shariah: The code of law based on the Koran. • Five Pillars of Islam: Faith in Allah, Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca, Fasting: daylight hours of Ramadan, Give Alms: charity and the Hajj: one pilgrimage to Mecca during lifetime

4. V. Muslim Salvation • Muslims have 7 different levels of heaven. The highest level is Jannatand the lowest is Khuldi. • Jannat is not a modestparadise. Their idea of paradise consists of fruits, shades, trees, rivers, happiness, food, costly robes, perfumes and jewels • Muslims don’t believe that only Muslims go to heaven. They believe that if your good deeds outweigh your evil deeds you will be eligible to go to heaven.

5. VI. After Muhammad’s Death • 632: Abu Bakr (father in law) becomes first caliph or successor of Muhammad • 634 Arabia under the caliph’s control • Caliph was a spiritual leader of Islam • Issue of succession caused division

6. VII. Umayyads • 656-661 Ali (cousin and son in law) had become the fourth caliph • He was assassinated • Umayyads (non descendants of Muhammad) rule all of Arabia • Move capital from Mecca to Damascus • This caused a permanent shift is Islam • Shi’a: only follow Ali and his descendants-(Muhammad as a god) • Sunni: Follow all caliphates (Islam as a way of life) • Allow for religious toleration with Jews and Christians

8. IX. The Abbasids • Take over in 750 CE led by Abu Abbas and the Shi’a • Good administrators, efficient bureaucracy • 762 CE move the capital to Baghdad • Large and growing population • Cities were urban centers • Merchants traded with Africa, Russia and India • Actively supported conquered areas to convert to Islam • Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures • X. Women in the Abbasid Dynasty • Beginning of Islam women had rights • They could inherit property, own business, divorce men, get an education • By the late 7th century male dominance was enforced by the Qur’an • Abbasids create the use of the veil and the harem • Wives of caliphs were concubines kept in secluded quarters • Women were always chaperoned

9. XI. Achievements of the Abbasid • Golden Age of Islam began in 750 and lasted until ca. 1400 • Mawali became integrated into the empire, no special taxes, worked in gov’t • Creation of universities of Cordoba and Baghdad • Literature: 1001 Arabian Nights • Traded with numerous countries • Used Steel swords and a credit based economy • Advances in arts, sciences, medicine and math • Al-Razi treated diseases: small pox and measles • Influenced by Western culture • XII. Decline • Mid 9th century • Empire became too big to control • Many civil wars • Peasants rebellions • Empire became divided into separate states • Mongols invaded from Asia • The empire fell in 1258 XIII. MamlukDynasty • 13th century: Mamluks (slaves turned soldiers) establish control over Egypt after fall of Abbasids • convert to Islam, strict observance of Islam