570-1258

• Islam: One of the world ’ s great religions
– Birth place: Middle East on the Arabian Peninsula ,
• Important cities: Mecca and Medina
Medina
Mecca

• Muhammed
– Born in Mecca, AD 570
– Raised by uncle, became a trader
– Married, age 25 to Khadija (AD 595)
– Age 40, had a vision
• Told by angel to preach monotheism to Arabians
• Became the Prophet
– AD 622, forced to leave Mecca, went to Yathrib
(Medina) = Hegira (flight)
– AD 630, returned and conquered Mecca with an army
• Dedicated the Kaaba, sacred shrine, to the one God, Allah
– 632, Muhammed died
• Islam had spread across entire Arabian Peninsula

• 5 Pillars:
– Belief in one God, Allah and Muhammed, his prophet
– Prayer, 5 times per day
– Charity
– Fast during Ramadan
– Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca
– **Jihad, struggle for faith
• Also “Holy War”

• Other items
– Islam means
“ submission ”
– Muslim is one who
“ submits ”
– So, the religion is called
Islam. A follower of
Islam is called a
Muslim.

• Mosque: Islamic place of worship
– Unique feature: Minarets: towers, used for “ call to prayer ”

• Koran: Islamic holy book
– Some similar stories to the Bible
– Noah, Moses
– Jesus, a prophet

• The Kaaba:
– Ancient shrine
Muslims believe was built by the
Prophet Abraham
– Used to worship
“ many gods ” before Islam.

• 661, Islam split into two branches:
– Sunni: Any devout Muslim could be “ Caliph ”
– Shia: Only descendants of Muhammed could be
“ caliph ”
• Caliph: successor of prophet, leader
• Ummayyad Dynasty: 661-750
• Abbassid Dynasty: 750-1258
• Spread of Islam:
– 661: All of Middle east
– 732: Across North Africa
– After 800 ’ s, even further spread of Islam

• Arab armies were united by their beliefs
– Warriors who died in service of Islam won a place in paradise
– Riches to be during conquest of lands
• Jihad also motivated soldiers
– Protecting the religion- holy lands or people