THE RISE OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE

Mr. Kallusingh World History topic 7

THE ORIGINS AND RISE OF ISLAM

The Arab population started as herders, that were connected in small tribes, led by Sheikhs.

Since there was not much land for farming most towns sprouted up along the coast, leading to them becoming traders.

The Arab Empire wasbuilt on trade.

THE ORIGINS AND RISE OF ISLAM

Due to trade the Arab towns met and were influenced by lots of cultures.

MUHAMMAD

He was a trader and did not like the way people in the Arab Empire were treated based on money.

He believed the angel Gabriel gave him messages from God to share with other people.

This became the basis for his teachings.

He was initially rejected, especially by the wealthy people.

MUHAMMAD

When his teaching was rejected in his home town of Mecca, he and his followers moved to Yathrib where he became very popular.

After his popularity grew he returned to Mecca and could not be kicked out because he had too many followers.

His teachings became Islam.

THE FAITH OF ISLAM

It is a monotheistic religion. Islam means “submission to the will of

God”, a follower of Islam is a Muslim Quran is the holy book of Islam, and is

revelations from God given to Muhammad.

Jihad “the struggle to defend the faith”, some Muslims believe that they will be rewarded in heaven

Muslims worship in a mosque

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

1- Profession of faith there is no god but Allah and Muhammad was his messenger

2- Five Daily Prayers daily prayers towards Mecca

3- Paying Zakat giving money to the poor

4- Fasting during the holy month Ramadan

5- Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime To pray to the Kaaba.

IMPORTANT ARAB FIGURES

Abu Bakr succeeded Muhammad as leader of the Arab community, and became known as Caliph- “successor to the prophet”

Bakr united the Arab tribes Umar followed Bakr setup a well

organized government and expanded the Arab empire to include Syria, Persia, and North Africa.

IMPORTANT ARAB FIGURES

Muhammad red, Bakr and Umar orange, After yellow

ISLAM IN INDIA

Islam tried to spread into India mainly in Northern India due to trade, but Hinduism always remained the main religion.

During the Umayyad Dynasty there was Islamic expansion which led to persecution of Hindus. 711 AD

DIVISION OF THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY The leader of the Islamic community

did not have a predetermined successor.

After the death of Umar is when the problem started, Uthman was killed as well as Ali and Mu'awiyah took over.

Some members agreed with Mu'awiyah and others wanted Ali’s family to remain in control.

This led to the split between the Sunni (Mu'awiyah) and the Shiah(Ali).

DIVISION OF THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY

UMAYYAD DYNASTY 661-750 AD

Mu'awiyah created the caliphate which solved the succession problems.

Non-Arab Muslims were treated unfairly in the Arab empire and this led to a lot of animosity.

There was a lot of conversion to Islam due to conquest.

ABBASID DYNASTY 750-1258 AD

Took over after the Umayyad Dynasty and moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad.

All Muslims were treated fairly regardless of their background.

Harun al-Rashid led the dynasty during it’s golden age and his son, al-Ma’mun, promoted learning.

They also created a strongbureaucracy.

ABBASID DYNASTY

After Harun died his two sons almost destroyed the capital Baghdad fighting for control.

Wealth led to corruption, as Baghdad had become the center of trade.

As time went on provinces in the empire broke away from central power and created their own caliphates.

ISLAMIC CULTURE

Literature Omar Khayyam wrote Rubaiyat and Arabian Nights

Art and Architecture the best art can be found in mosques, art is a blend of Arab- Turkish- Persian, architecture is best expressed in mosques

ISLAMIC CULTURE

Philosophy many of the Greek work on philosophy like Aristotle arrived in Europe with Arabic commentary

Science Ibn Sina wrote a medical encyclopedia that included many things like infectious disease, perfected the astrolabe which allows a person to determine their location based on the stars

ISLAMIC CULTURE History Ibn-Khaldun wrote

Muqaddimah which argues that civilization are cyclical (birth, growth, decay)

Math are credited with starting India’s numeric system, created Algebra

Men were dominant in society even though men and women are to be equal based on the Quran

ISLAMIC CULTURE

Social Structure had a well defined upper class of rulers, senior officials, nomadic elites, wealthy merchants.

Made many improvements to Greek maps as well.

ISLAM VS. MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS