The Muslim World

SOL Standards Essential Questions

• Where did the Islamic religion originate? Where did it spread?

• What are the beliefs, traditions, and customs of Islam?

• How did geography influence the rapid expansion of territory under Muslim rule?

• How did political and cultural geography facilitate trade and cultural activity in the early Islamic lands?

• What were some major historical turning points that marked the spread and influence of Islamic civilization?

• How did Islamic civilization preserve and extend ancient Greek, Persian, and Indian learning?

• What were some contributions of Islamic civilization?

Origins of Islam

• Arabian Peninsula (present-day Saudi Arabia)

• The cities of Mecca and Medina

• Based on the monotheism of Abraham.

The Founder of Islam

Artist depiction

Muhammad•Muhammad had a vision that an angel came to him and told him that there was only one god “Allah”.

•He spread his monotheistic message in Mecca (at first).

•He is known as “The (last and greatest) Prophet”

Mecca• Pilgrimage center•Birthplace of Islam

•Muhammad was driven from Mecca, and fled to Medina. After years of fighting, he returned to Mecca and destroyed the idols at the Kaaba.

Kaaba• Muslims believe that this shrine was built

by the prophet Abraham.

Medina• Muhammad migrated to Medina and attracted

a large devoted following.• He became a religious, political and military

leader.

Beliefs of Islam• One God: “Allah”• Five pillars• Quran• Judeo-Christian

prophets: Abraham, Moses and Jesus

Allah in Arabic

Five Pillars of Islam• Declaration of Faith:

One God• Daily Prayer• Alms (charity) to the

Poor• Fasting during

Ramadan• Pilgrimage (holy

journey) to Mecca to visit the Kaaba (Hajj)

• FAPPO

Daily Prayer

• five times a day- facing Mecca

Alms for the Poor• Charity

Fasting• During the month of Ramadan no food or

drink is taken from sunrise to sunset.

Hajj• Pilgrimage to Mecca (if able) at least once

during a person’s lifetime.

Quran• The Quran (Koran) is the holy book of Islam:

• Muslims believe it perfects the earlier revelations from God (in the Bible)

Islam Spreads• At first, Islam

spread along trade routes from Mecca and Medina

• Muslims believed they had a duty to spread their religion and began to build an empire.

Islam Spreads• As the Muslim Empire grew, Islam spread into

Fertile Crescent, Iran and Egypt, including the cities of Jerusalem and Damascus.

• The Byzantine and Persian Empires were weak.

Islam Spreads• Finally it spread into Central Asia, across Northern

Africa and into Spain (Green areas)• The Muslim empire grew quickly despite great

distances, deserts, and mountain barriers.

Damascus• Under the Umayadd dynasty the capital of the

Muslim Empire was moved far from Mecca to Damascus (in Syria) in order to better control

distant territories.

Sunni – Shi’a Division• This split in Islamic religion was caused by

disagreement over succession (choosing the next caliph)

• The two sects (branches)of Islam have a long history of tension and rivalry .

Sunni Muslims• The Sunni believed that all of the first four caliphs (religious and political leaders), were

the rightful successors of the Prophet Muhammed.

• The vast majority of Muslims belong to the Sunni sect.

Shi’a Muslims• Shi’a believed the caliph should be a relative

of Muhammad (descendant of Ali –the 4th Caliph).

• Shi’a Islam is the state religion of present-day Iran and the majority religion in Iraq and

Lebanon.

Battle of Tours• A battle between the

Muslims and the Franks (a Germanic tribe) which took place in Tours (in present-day France)

• The Franks won and stopped the Muslims from advancing beyond (present-day) Spain and further into Western Europe.

Baghdad

• Under the Abassid’s, the capital of the Islamic Empire was moved to Baghdad (present-day

Iraq), due to its location at the point where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers almost meet.

Baghdad• This location provided access to key trade

routes which gave the caliph access to trade goods, gold, and information about the

Empire.

Muslim Empire• The Muslim Empire did not stay politically

united. • The empire began to split up into independent

Muslim states – but Muslims remained unified by a common religion, language, and trade.

Crusades• In 1096 Western Europeans launched a

crusade (holy war) to reclaim Jerusalem and the holy lands.

Crusades• In 1099, Crusaders captured Jerusalem and

massacred its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants.

Saladin

• In 1187, Saladin, a Muslim ruler retook Jerusalem and Damascus from Christian Crusaders.

Ottoman Turks• The Ottoman Turks

were nomads who converted to Islam and conquered what remained of the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

• Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) became capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Islam Today

• In the High Middle Ages Islam spread further into Central Asia, Southeast Asia

and West Africa.•Today Islam is the dominant religion in the

Middle East, North Africa, and Indonesia

Cultural Achievements• Architecture• Mosaics• Arabic alphabet• Universities• Translation of

ancient texts into Arabic

Dome of the Rock• The earliest surviving Muslim mosque (house

of worship) • Built on a site in Jerusalem holy to Muslims

and Jews.

Mosaics

•Pictures made up of bits of stone and glass.•Muslims used geometric designs because they

were not permitted to picture holy beings

Arabic Language

•The Arabic language spread with Islam and facilitated trade across Islamic lands

•Ancient Greek and Roman texts were translated into Arabic.

Muslim Universities

• Al Azhar university mosque, Cairo

•Centers of learning for Christian Europeans as well as Muslims during the middle ages

Other Contributions• Arabic numerals (adapted

from India)• Algebra• Medicine• Letters of credit (checks)• Geographic knowledge

Arabic Numerals

• Improved trade

•Also called Hindu-Arabic numbers

Muslim Medicine

• Far more advanced than in Europe.

• First true hospitals.

al Razi

Lateen Sail• Arab traders crossed the

Indian Ocean in ships with lateen sails which enabled them to sail closer to the wind.

• By the tenth century, this technology reached Europe from the Middle East.

Slavery• Slavery was

commonplace in many Muslim areas until modern times.

• Slavery was not based on race.

Baghdad• This location provided access to key trade routes

which gave the caliph access to trade goods, gold, and information about the Empire.

• Muhammad had a vision that an angel came to him and told him that there was only one god “Allah”.

• He spread his monotheistic message in Mecca (at first).

• He is known as “The (last and greatest) Prophet”

Reflection• The hegira marks Mohammed’s flight from Mecca to

A. Damascus.B. Baghdad.C. Jerusalem.D. Medina.

• Which of the following is NOT one of the Pillars of Islam?A. Giving charityB. Fasting during RamadanC. Being baptizedD. Making a pilgrimage

• What city is important not only to Muslims, but to Jews and Christians as well?A. MeccaB. JerusalemC. ConstantinopleD. Cairo

• Which of the following is true about the Koran?A. It was written by Mohammed.B. It has been changed over time.C. It was recorded by Mohammed’s followers.D. It includes the Old and New Testament.

• Who of the following is NOT regarded as a prophet by Muslims?A. JesusB. PaulC. AbrahamD. Mohammed

Reflection• An important cultural contribution of the Muslims would be the

A. development of gunpowder.B. preservation of ancient Greek and Roman texts.C. establishment of trade with Australia.D. building of churches throughout the empire.

• As trade expanded in the Islamic Empire, many people adopted the Arabic language. This event would be best characterized by what term below?A. AcculturationB. EthnocentrismC. Diffusion D. Xenophobia

• When Muslims pray, they faceA. the east.B. Mecca.C. Jerusalem.D. the nearest mosque.

• Which of the following represents the correct order of the Islamic dynasties from the 7th to the 13th century?A. Umayyad, Abbasid, SeljukB. Abbasid, Seljuk, UmayyadC. Abbasid, Shi’ite, SunniD. Umayyad, Shi’ite, Abbasid

• All of the following are scientific achievements of the Muslims EXCEPT:A. invention of the compass.B. Al Jabr or Algebra.C. adaptation of Arabic numerals.D. medicine.

Reflection• Where did Islam begin?

A. Iberian PeninsulaB. AfricaC. Arabian PeninsulaD. Europe

• Who is the founder of Islam?A. MohammedB. ZoroasterC. GautamaD. Abraham

• What famous battle halted the spread of Islam into western Europe?A. HastingsB. Tours C. SalamisD. Agincourt

• At its height, the Islamic empire expanded fromA. east Asia to Europe.B. the Indus River Valley to the Atlantic Ocean.C. the Nile River Valley to the Pacific Ocean.D. west Africa to Scandinavia.

• Where did traders and merchants spread Islam?A. Northern EuropeB. Southeast AsiaC. AustraliaD. America