• When Muhammad died, he did
not leave a successor, which
caused problems for Muslims.
• Eventually, the umma agreed
that Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s
father-in-law) would be the first
caliph in 632 A.D.
Abu Bakr
• Caliph: The Caliph is the head
of state in a Caliphate, and the
title for the ruler of the Islamic
umma.
• Many Muslims did not accept Abu
Bakr and briefly left the Islamic
religion, but Abu Bakr later
succeeded in reuniting Muslims.
• United, Muslims set out on a series
of military campaigns, securing
victories against the Byzantines and
the Persian empires.
• However, a schism between Sunni
and Shiite Muslims began to grow
wider, splitting the united group.
• After Muhammad’s death, Muslims disagreed about who
should succeed the prophet in leading the umma. The result
was the split between Sunnis and Shiites.
• Shiites believed that Muhammad had designated his son-in-law
Ali to be his successor. “Followers of Ali”.
• Sunni’s believed that the caliph should be a pious member of
Muhammad’s tribe, not necessarily one of his relatives.
• Shiites believed that the new leader should serve as a religious
leader, while Sunni’s argued that a caliph could lead without
serving as religious official.
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Byzantine Empire
Persian Empire
Arabian Peninsula
Asia Minor
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The Red Sea
The Bosphorus Strait
Arabian Peninsula
Mecca and Medina
• Sufism is a mystical
branch of Islam where
followers meditate and
fast to connect with
God.
• Today, 90% of Muslims
are Sunni and 10% are
Shiites. Very few
practice Sufism.
• Most Shiites live in Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq.
• Most Sufis live in the African countries of Senegal and
Morocco.
• After the death of Ali, a powerful
Meccan clan set up the Umayyad
caliphate – a dynasty of Sunni
Muslims that ruled until 750 A.D.
• From their capital in Damascus,
Syria, they were responsible for
Islam spreading from Spain and
Morocco in the West to the Indus
River Valley in the east.
• Many different peoples were under
their rule and non-Muslims were
charged a tax. All religions could
worship freely.
• Arabs had to adapt from living in the
desert to ruling vast territories- many
ruled like tribal leaders and not kings
with large holdings
• Tensions began to grow between
the haves and have not's- wealthy
and poor. The caliphs had a
luxurious lifestyle that many saw as
obscene.
• Even though there was considerable
religious tolerance, non-Arabs (even
if they converted to Islam) still did not
have the same rights as Arabs.
• In 750 A.D., Abu-al- Abbas defeated the
Umayyad’s, captured Damascus, and
founded the Abbasid Dynasty.
• The Abbasids treated all Muslims equally,
ended conquests, and supported education
and learning.
• They also governed their empire efficiently,
unlike the Umayyad.
• Bagdad became the Abbasid Capital.
Many mosques with tall slender minarets
were erected.
• The surviving members of the
Umayyad family had fled to
Spain after the Abbasid
takeover, establishing an
independent Muslim state.
• In Spain they presided over
brilliant, luxurious courts and
arts and learning thrived.
• Umayyad rule lasted in parts
of Spain until 1492.
• Beginning in the 900s, the Muslim
Empire of the Abbasid showed signs of
decline
• In 900, Seljuk Turks migrated into the
Middle East from Central Asia,
adopting Islam and building a large empire
Across the Fertile Crescent
• The Seljuk Sultan controlled the
Abbasid empire and Bagdad by 1055
A.D.
• In 1200, Mongols attacked across South West Asia,
burning and looting Bagdad in 1258
• Under the Abassids, Muslim
Civilization entered a “Golden Age”
•
Golden Age is a time of great
prosperity and cultural
accomplishments.
•
Under the Abassids, the Muslim
empire stretched into Asia, the
Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
•
Muslim civilization adopted the
traditions of many cultures.
• Muslim traders crossed the Sahara,
traveled the Silk Road, and sailed to
India and Asia.
• There was great social mobility- or the
ability to move up in society through
religious, military, or scholarly
achievements
• Although slavery was common, Islamic
law taught that freeing slaves was a
charitable act- so even slaves had a
chance to advance
• Between 750 and 1350, merchants built
a vast trading network across Muslim
lands and beyond
• Extensive trade and a thriving money economy led Muslims to
pioneer new business practices- buying and selling on credit,
partnerships, and using checks (sakh Arabic).