Chapter 11
The Origins & Expansion of Islam
Greek Historian Herodotus gave the name “Arab” to the peninsula area
(Arabia) as Rome expanded its empire and the people conquered
the “Arabians” as a province.
Roman Times
 Arabia occupied by Bedouin Arabs
 Tribal leaders called “sheikh” and elected from leading families
 Arabs of Pre-Islam were polytheistic
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Supreme god was Allah
Symbolized by a sacred stone
(each tribe possessed their own stone, but ALL worshipped a massive black
meteorite located in a shrine called the Ka’aba (in Mecca).
Archaeology has provided much evidence of Pre-Islamic worship in Arabia.
As the economy of the region developed, relations between groups
shifted and became strained.
Please watch the PBS Video – Islam - Empire of Faith
There is a Movie Guide located in Blackboard. Use this as a
study guide for information on the life of Muhammad
and the rise of Islam.
http://media.nclive.org.ezproxy.cpcc.edu/browse_videos.phtml?Subject=14
Link through CPCC Library to Research Database – PBS Live – World History
Empires – Islam Part 1 and 2
You are responsible for the information from the beginning of this video through the
information about Cordoba in Spain.
In addition to the PBS Video, make sure you know the
information on the Study Guide. Much of this is
reflected in your textbook reading.
Vocabulary: caliph, imam, Qur’an (Koran), Islam, Hijrah,
jihad, pilgrimage