Chapter 10: The Muslim World Essential Questions: 1. How and why did Islam develop into a vast empire between 600 and 1250? 2. What achievements of the Muslim world impact us still today? Section One: The Rise of Islam I. Deserts, Towns, and Travelers Arabian Peninsula is a crossroads of three continents: Africa, Europe, Asia Very little fertile land, mostly desert Inhabited by nomadic Arab herders * The Arabian Peninsula Asia Europe Africa A. Desert and Town Life Nomadic herders were called Bedouins, organized themselves into clans. Had adapted to desert life very well Bedouins ideals of courage and family life along with their warrior skills later became part of the Islamic way of life. By the 600s Bedouins began to settle in towns. B. Crossroads of Trade and Ideas Trade routes including the Silk Roads connected Arabia to the Byzantine and Sassanid empires. Mecca became an important stop along these trade routes. Mecca held a house of worship called Kaaba, many gods and spirits were worshipped here. There was also the concept of one God, called Allah practiced on the peninsula. II. The Prophet Muhammad Muhammad was born into the clan of a powerful Meccan family. He received little schooling and worked the trade routes Married Khadijah a wealthy businesswomen at the age of 25. A. Revelations Muhammad took great interest in religion and often spent time alone in prayer and meditation. At the age of 40 his life changed forever, claimed a voice called to him when he was meditating. believed that the voice was Gabriel an angel of God and he told him that he was a messenger of God. He believed that this one God who spoke to him through Gabriel was Allah He then began teaching the belief of one god called Allah People who followed his teaching of Islam became known as Muslims. Islam- submission to the will of Allah. Muslim- one who has submitted He faced much hostility, many believers were beaten or stoned in the streets of Mecca B. The Hijrah Muhammad left Mecca in 622, and settled in Yathrib migration from Mecca to Yathrib became known as the Hijrah. City was later renamed Medina, meaning city of the prophet Muhammad became a political, religious, and military leader of Medina. Conflicts b/w Mecca and Medina soon followed The Hijrah C. Returning to Mecca Many Bedouin tribes began to convert to Islam. Muhammad soon took control of Mecca He then went and destroyed religious idols in the Kaaba Muhammad died shortly after, but had made great strides in unifying the entire Arabian Peninsula under Islam. III. Beliefs and Practices of Islam Believe in one God Teaches there is good and evil, and that each individual is responsible for the actions of his or her life. The holy book of Muslims is the Quran (Koran) Believe that they will stand before Allah on a final judgment day and enter either heaven or hell. A. The Five Pillars have to carry out 5 duties, these duties demonstrate a Muslims submission to the will of God. 1. Faith- have to make statement of faith There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah 2. Prayer- Five times a day towards Mecca. 3. Alms- Must give money to the poor, through a religious tax. Five Pillars continued 4. Pilgrimage- Must perform the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life. Once in Mecca they all wear the same clothes to stand as equals before God. 5. Fasting- During Ramadan, they eat and drink nothing between dawn and sunset. A small meal is eaten at the end of the day. B. A way of Life No central religious authority Forbidden to eat pork or drink alcohol Does not separate personal life from religious life C. Sources of Authority original source of authority for Muslims is Allah Allah expressed his will to Muhammad through Gabriel Muhammads followers memorized these revelations After Muhammads death revelations were written down= Quran Quran is written in Arabic, and Muslims consider only Arabic version to be true word of Allah Muslims believe that Muhammads mission as a prophet was to receive the Quran and to demonstrate how to apply it into life. Muslims call this the Sunna or Muhammads example for proper living. The guidance of the Quran and the Sunna was assembled in a body of law known as the sharia (shah-REE-ah) This system of law regulates the family life, moral conduct, and business and community life of Muslims. Sources of Authority in Islam Sharia governs all Muslim life Quran holy writings Sunna Muhammads example Section Two: The Spread of Islam I. Muhammads Successors Spread Islam Muhammad did not name a successor or leave instructions on how to choose one ppl relied on tribal customs to choose their next leader 632-Abu-Bakr- first caliph- title means successor or deputy A. Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu-Bakr + next 3 caliphs (Umar, Uthman, and Ali) supported Muhammads mission called the rightly guided caliphs Ppl began to abandon Islam, refused to pay taxes, some began to declare themselves prophets Rightly Guided Caliphs continued Abu-Bakr invoked jihad- means striving- refers to inner struggle against evil; came to mean an armed struggle against unbelievers- holy war next 3 caliphs able to expand Muslim state by conquering Syria, lower Egypt, and parts of Persian Empire Eventually Muslim Empire stretched from Atlantic all the way to the Indus River (4,000 miles wide) B. Reasons for Success Armies well disciplined Byzantine and Persian Empire were exhausted militarily Persecuted populations of Byzantine or Persian Empires often welcomed invaders, saw them as liberators Spread Of Islam C. Treatment of Conquered People Welcomed Islam, also did not have to pay a tax Quran forbid forced conversions, so many were able to retain their own religion People of the book Jews and Christians, received special consideration- paid a tax each year to be exempt from military not allowed to spread their religions, did play roles as officials, scholars, and bureaucrats. II. Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis murder of Uthman triggered a civil war Ali, Muhammads cousin and son in law, natural choice but he too was assassinated in 661 Umayyads soon came to power moved capital from Mecca to Damascus, in Syria began to surround themselves w/ wealth & ceremonies gave rise to division of Muslims A. Sunni-Shia Split Shia- minority, resisted Umayyads rule (15% today) Sunni- majority, did not outwardly resist Umayyads (85% today) Sufi- pursued life of poverty and devotion to spiritual path, monks (less than 1% today) Religious and political opposition to Umayyad led to their downfall Abbasids took control of empire Branches of Islam a minority, resisted the Umayyads rule 15% today Shia a majority, did not outwardly resist the Umayyads 85% today Sunni pursued a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path Less than 1% today Sufi III. Muslims Control Areas of Three Continents Abbasids came to power in 750, murdered remaining Umayyads A. Abbasids Consolidate Power Moved capital to Baghdad in 762 Developed strong bureaucracy To support bureaucracy taxed land, imports/exports and non-Muslim wealth B. Rival Groups Divide Muslim Lands Abbasid Empire lasted from 750 to 1258, size of empire hurt them Separate Muslim states began to pop up all over the region Fatimid Dynasty one of these independent states It began in North Africa and spread to Red Sea Abbasid Empire and smaller powers remained unified by religion, language, trade, and economy. Islam in the World Today Section 3: Muslim Culture I. Muslim Society: Cities, social classes, and role of women Baghdad and Damascus were leading cities in Muslim Empire Muslim society made up of 4 social classes: 1. People born Muslims 2. converts to Islam 3. Protected People- Jews, Christians 4. Slaves A. Role of Women Quran says men and women equal in worship Muslim women had more legal rights than other societies of the day But women in Muslim society were expected to submit to their husbands Over time restrictions on Muslim women increased II. Muslim Scholars and Education strong emphasis and value on education Muhammad believed strongly in power of learning House of Wisdom- school in Baghdad where Greek, Indian, Persian texts translated/studied A. The Arts literature had a strong tradition in Arabia even before Islam Quran is basis for Muslim literature Developed art of calligraphy- beautiful handwriting Also advanced in woodwork, glass, ceramics and textiles Muslim architecture, especially mosques, combined influences from many cultures: Greece, Rome, Byzantium B. The Sciences Muslim contributions most seen in medicine, math, astronomy Believe mathematics is basis of all knowledge Used observation/experimentation to learn about world Developed modern algebra Charted stars, comets, planets Developed basics for microscope/telescope lens C. Culture blends and survives though unified Muslim state broke up, Muslim culture continued three Muslim Empires would emerge that would reflect blended culture of this time: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal empires knowledge developed and preserved by Muslims would be drawn upon by European scholars in the Renaissance