The First Global
Civilization:
The Rise and Spread of
Islam
The Arabian Peninsula is a crossroads of three
continents: Africa, Europe, and Asia
Only small areas of the peninsula can support
agriculture, the rest is a desert
Inhabited by nomadic Arab herders
Nomads were called Bedouins and were organized
into tribes and clans
Clans provided security and support in the harsh
conditions
Eventually these clans became the core of armies
who would build a huge empire in the 600 and
700’s.
Bedouins ideals of courage, loyalty, and warrior
skills would become part of the Islamic way of life
By the 600’s many Arabs had chosen to settle in
the oasis or market towns
Larger towns developed on the western coast of
Arabia and were market towns for local, regional,
and long-distance trade good
By 600 Arabia was connected with all the major
trade routes of the ancient world
They used caravan routes, had north to south
trade, and were part of the Silk Roads
Transported spices and incense from Yemen to the
west. They also carried information and ideals in
addition to products!
By 600 cities such as Petra and Palmyra had
become prosperous trading centers
The city of Mecca became a very important trade
stop
Caravan stopped in Mecca and brought religious
pilgrims who came to worship at an ancient shrine
in the city, Ka’aba
Associated this house of worship with Abraham, a
believer in one God. Over the years , they had
introduced the worship of many gods and spirits in
the place. The Ka’aba contained 360 idols brought
by many tribes.
God = Allah in Arabic
The belief in one god was not new to Arabs, many
Jews and Christians had practiced their religion in
the area
Muhammad was born into a powerful Meccan
family
Muhammad came into this mix around 570 CE
Orphaned at the age of six he was raised by his
uncle. He received little schooling and began
working in caravan trade as a young man
He became a trader and business manager for
Khadijah, a wealthy businesswoman
When he turned 25 he married Khadijah
He worked on the caravan routes and came into
contact with Judaism and Christianity
Muhammad took a lot of interest in religion and
spent much time alone in prayer and meditation
At 40,Muhammad’s life changed overnight when
a voice called to him while he meditated in a cave
outside of Mecca
According to Muslim belief the voice was the
angel Gabriel who told Muhammad that he was a
messenger of God “What shall I proclaim? Asked
Muhammad the voice answered:
Proclaim! In the name of they Lord and Cherisher,
who created man out of a mere clot of congealed
blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is most bountiful.
He who taught (the use of) pen taught man that
which he knew not
Clans
Clans fought for possession of watering place and
grazing lands (rivalries). Survival depended on
cooperation within clan. Could end up in battle over
mere insults.
Mecca and Medina were extensions of the tribal
culture and their populations were linked by kinship to
Bedouins. Mecca was found by the Umayyad clan of
the Quraysh Bedouin tribe.
Women enjoyed greater freedoms, played economic
role (milking camels to weaving), traced descents via
mother, bride-prices, not secluded, not equal. When
merchant elite was created women’s roles declined!
Men could be polygamous but women monogamous
Little art culturally, focus on poetry and stories
Religion
Religion was a blend of animism and polytheism.
Some tribes recognized a supreme god, Allah. But
seldom prayed to him. Like less abstract gods who
seem more relevant to their lives like Hubal or the
moon god.
Religion did not appear to have a lot to do with
ethics rather standards of morality were set in
tribal customs an unwritten codes
After much soul-searching, Muhammad came to
believe that the Lord who spoke to him through
Gabriel was Allah.
He believed that he was the last of the prophets
and began teaching that Allah was the one and
only God and that all other gods must be
abandoned
The people who followed Muhammad’s teachings
and beliefs are called Muslims. In Arabic the term
Islam means “submission to the will of Allah”
Muslim means “ one who has submitted”
His wife and several friends were his first
followers…by 613 Muhammad began preaching
in Mecca
At first Meccans had problems with him b/c of the
pilgrimage industry and they did not want to
neglect the Arab gods.
Some of his early followers were beaten and
stoned
So Muhammad left Mecca and settled in the town
of Yathrib (200 miles away). He found many
followers here. In addition to a religious leader, he
was accepted as a political leader too! He settled
quarrels between Bedouin clans of the town. His
wisdom and skills politically won him new
followers.
Yathrib was later renamed Medina meaning “city
of the Prophet”
Many Bedouin tribes converted to Islam. Providing
Muhammad with a large army.
In the eyes of Umayyad notables Muhammad
successes made him a great enemy. In the past they
attempted to kill him.
New faith and unwelcomed competition
Medina vs Mecca. Battled for years and 630
Muhammad and 10,000 men marched to Mecca.
Meccans surrender.
Treaty of Quraysh in 628
Muhammad destroyed the idols at Ka’aba and held a
call to prayer there.
Most Meccans quickly converted to Islam after there
defeat and became part of the Muslim religious
community, umma.
Muhammad died 2 years later
Beliefs/ Practices
There is only one God, Allah
There is good and evil and individuals are
responsible for there own actions
Holy book of Islam is the Qur’an
Believe in final judgment before Allah where they
will enter heaven or hell
Do not separated personal and religious lives
Customs, morals, and laws that control Muslims
Forbidden to eat pork or drink wine (alcohol)
Friday afternoon set aside for communal prayer
Has no priests or central religious authority
Scholar class called the ulama, learning and law
5Muslim
Pillars
you must carry out these duties
Faith- “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allah
Prayer-Five times a day towards Mecca
Alms- responsibility to support the less fortunate
Fasting-During the Islamic holy month of
Ramadan, Muslim fast. They eat and drink
nothing between dawn and sunset. Eat at end of
day
Pilgrimage-All Muslim must perform the hajj or
pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life.
During the pilgrimage events in Mecca all
Muslims dress the same to appear as equals before
God
Authority rests with Allah, who expressed his will
to Gabriel, who revealed it to Muhammad. The
Qur’an came from writing down Muhammad
teachings and prayers
Qur’an is written in Arabic and Muslims
considered the Arabic version to be the true word
of God. Only Arabic can be used in worship and
this is why the language spread so quickly
Not only did Muhammad provide the Qur’an, he
provided an example for other Muslims to follow
Sunna (Muhammad’s example)
These ideas and laws were assembled into a body
of laws called the shari’a.
Why it worked so well
Popular because it transcended clan and class
divisions
It was a monotheistic religion from their people with
no intermediaries between the individual and God
Possibility to end vendettas and feuds
Umma created political unity
Skills of the Bedouins of war could be used to conquer
other lands and create the first global civilization!
Ethical system that helped heal the deep social rifts
within Arabic society. Dignity of all believers,
equality before Allah (egalitarianism), moral codes,
responsibility for the poor, and being kind and
generous
Qur’an laid the foundations for an extensive law code
to regulate all aspects of Muslim life. (last judgment)
Crisis after Death of Muhammad in 632 CE
Many Bedouin tribes renounced Islam after the death
of Muhammad
Muhammad left no direction over succession and this
began to be disputed
Caliph=political and religious successor of
Muhammad
Several choices, Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) thought to
be too young though and Abu Bakr (a close friend and
early follower)
Abu Bakr became the first caliph. Those who knew
Muhammad were called the rightly guided caliphs. He
united Bedouin tribes through the Ridda Wars.
Under Umar, the second caliph, Syria and lower Egypt
were conquered from the Byzantine Empire. He also
took parts of the Persian Empire
Third caliph, Uthman from the Umayyad clan was
murdered.
The murder of Uthman in 656 triggered a civil war
and crisis over succession
Uthman was chosen caliph in 644. The reasons for
his selection are unclear; it may be partly due to
his willingness to continue Umar's policies, partly
due to his Umayyad lineage. During his twelveyear reign, grievances which had been suppressed
under Umar's caliphate came to the surface. He
was accused of nepotism, favoritism,
misadministration, and religious innovation by his
detractors, which included the man who would
become the fourth caliph, Ali. Uthman was
murdered in 656 by a group of discontented
Egyptians.
Umayyads rejected Ali’s claim and swore to revenge
when Ali failed to punish the assassins of Uthman.
Ali was related to Muhammad and a strong warrior. In
656 in the battle of the camel, he lead a victory against
the Umayyads
By 657 at the battle of Siffin Ali was on the verge of
defeating the Umayyads when he was won over by a
plea for mediation
He accepted negotiations and because of this many of
his supporters renounced him!
Umayyads regrouped their forces and in 660 under the
leadership of Mu’awiya challenged Ali’s position by
claiming himself caliph of Jerusalem
A year later, Ali was assassinated and his son, Hasan
was pressured by the Umayyads to renounce his claim
to the caliphate.
The question over succession deeply divided the
Islamic world…even to this day!
The split between Sunnis and Shi’a
Sunnis backed the Umayyads
Shi’a supported Ali and Muhammads relatives
The hostilities between the two groups continued
as the Umayyads and Ali’s second son, Husayn
struggled for power.
Husayn was killed in 680 at Karbala
Shi’a only recognized Ali as a caliph!
Differences not only in succession but also in
beliefs, rituals, and laws developed between the
Sunnis and Shi’a
Also sects within the Shi’a community over Ali
when he agreed to arbitration with Umayyads
Islamic Empire Expands
Umayyads seize power and extend the Arab
empire
By 633 Arabia under Islamic banner turned
their eyes outward beyond the peninsula
Stunning conquests of Mesopotamia, north
Africa, and Persia
Empire ruled by small Arab warrior elite led
by the Umayyads and important clans
Abu Bakr = Ridda Wars –united Arabia and
oversaw raids into Iraq, Syria, and eastern Egypt
Wanted to raid for booty and then retreat but the
initial probes into the lands revealed their
vulnerabilities
Byzantine Empire and Sasanian Empires weak
Islamic invaders driven by a sense of common
cause and purpose (Islam), standing up against
non-Arab rulers, to release pent-up energies of the
Bedouins, and the promise of a share in the booty
by raids and tribute.
However, they were not driven by a desire to win
converts! They would have to share the booty and
Muslims were exempt from some taxes. Thus the
idea of jihads or holy wars launched to forcibly
spread the Muslim faith are false
Most vulnerable empires were in the Middle East,
Sasanian which was the Persian Empires
Sasanian empire ruled by an emperor controlled
by the elites. Elites exploited poor, Zoroastrianism
official religion while the popular religion of
Mazdak was suppressed.
Warriors and defective Arabs combined to lead to
the quick fall of the Sasanian Empire
651 last of the Sasanian ruled murdered
Byzantine Empire stronger than Sasanian. Support
by defective Arabs and Christian sects (didn’t
support the orthodox Byzantines-taxes them and
persecuted other Christians as heretics)
Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and Mediterranean.
Were dominant with their navy! Helped them
conquer other areas of North Africa and Italy
Byzantine Empire still existed, but lost much
power and some of its provinces to the Arab
invaders!
After the civil war Arab conquests continued in
the late 7th century
Central Asia, Northwest India, Spain, dominated
the Mediterranean
Political center of empire was not Mecca, but
Damascus in Syria under the Umayyads
Umayyads tried to block Muslims and nonMuslims. However, this happened. Plus many
individuals just converted to the religion of Islam
voluntarily!
Mawali=Muslim convert
Still had pay taxes including sometimes the jizya
(head tax)
Umayyad era did not have many conversions due
to these factors.
Most people were the dhimmi or people of the
book (Christians and Jews)
Dhimmi religions tolerated, but they were required
to pay taxes
Easier to rule due to this toleration b/c many had
been oppressed by former overlords
Women
At first women enjoyed many rights
Qur’an stressed the moral and ethical dimensions
of marriage
Muhammad showed kindness and concern for his
wives and daughters
Encourage marriage rather than commercial
loving
Denounced adultery, forbade infanticide of girls,
marry up to 4 wives, no multiple marriages if
husband could not support them. Equality before
Allah. Many important information recorded by
women.
Umayyad Fall
Became more concerned with luxury and the good
life. Caliph’s had very large harems!
Instead of fighting in the early 8th century these caliph
retreated to their palaces to live it up. Muhammad
advocated frugal and simple lives. Began to alienated
Muslims.
Warriors began settling and marrying locals. They
became angry b/c of be governed by a caliph so far
away and they were not getting a cut of the booty.
Umayyads were seen as corrupt and decadent.
Many warriors settled in the oasis town of Merv. In
740 the Umayyads tried to introduce new troops here
which sparked a revolt
Fall
The revolt spread!
By 747 Frontier warriors challenged the Umayyads
under the banner of the Abbasids. Muhammads uncle,
al-Abbas (descendants)
Shi’a join forces with the Abbaids to fight the
Umayyads
Mawali soon joined
Battle of the River Zab in 750-(by the Tigris river) and
the Abbaids won and captured the Umayyad capital!
Abu al-Abbas invited the members of the Umayyad
family to a banquet afterwards where he had all of
them slaughtered so that the could not make claims to
the position of caliph
Nickname al-Saffah meaning the blood shedder!
Rebel groups overthrow
the Umayyads in 750. The
most powerful was the
Abbasids who took
control of the empire
The Abbasids murdered
all members of the
remaining Umayyad
family
One member escaped and
set up control in southern
Spain. They were known
as the Berbers.
The Berbers were lead by
Jabal Tariq. Gibraltar is
named after him.
The Berbers advanced
north within 100 miles
of what is today Paris
before losing in the
Battle of Tours in 732.
If they would have
won all of Europe
would most likely be
Muslim. They
resettled in southern
Spain
Abbasids moved the
capital once again to
Baghdad. This was a
strategic location for trade
as well as information.
The government was set
up into departments and
managed
Diplomats were sent out
around Europe, Africa,
and Asia
They ruled from 750-1258
They keep power by
consulting many religious
leaders, but failed to keep
complete control.
Independent Muslim states
with local leaders rose up
Example: Fatimid Dynasty
(after Muhammad’s
daughter) began in North
Africa and spread. They
were part of the Shiites
(claiming heritage from
Fatimid and her husband
Ali)
Their capital was Cairo
after they took over Egypt
Shiism unified the group
They declined due to
losses to the Normans and
Crusaders in the 11th
century.
The Abbasids conquered
Egypt in 1171
Abbasids
After the murders the grandson of the Umayyad
caliph fled to Spain.
After the Abbasids took power they started to
reject many of their former allies, especially
Shi’ism. They thought they had a heretical view of
Islam
New capital in Baghdad, Iraq
Caliph built large places and harems
Created a more bureaucratic form of government
for the Islamic empire (Wazir)
Achievements
Economic growth
Mosques centers of learning
Took older knowledge of peoples such as
the Greeks and kept.
Map Timeline of Empire in Middle East:
MAP
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1342_islamic_middle_east/map/