 Muhammad born in Mecca in 570.
 He was a shepherd for Bedouins.
 Later he became a merchant.
 While meditating in a cave, he was visited by the angel
Gabriel.
 He was called to be a messenger of God.
 Muhammad devoted the rest of his life to spreading
Islam and following Allah.
 Muhammad left on hijra to Yathrib in 622.
 Began to attack Meccan caravans.
 630- Muhammad triumphed in Mecca.
 632- Muhammad died.
 Monotheistic
 Allah is all powerful and compassionate.
 Do not recognize priests as mediators.
 1) Declaration of faith- Only one God and Muhammad
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is his prophet.
2) Daily Prayer- Pray in mosques five times a day
facing Mecca.
3) Give to the Poor.
4) Fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month
of Ramadan.
5) Make Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your
life.
 Journey is an effort to achieve Jihad- an effort in God’s
service.
 Sacred word of God revealed to Muhammad.
 Final authority on all matters.
 Written in Arabic, because it is the direct,
unchangeable word of Allah.
 System of law that
regulates moral conduct,
family life, business
practices, and
government.
 Doesn’t separate religious
matters from civil law.
 Equal spiritual equality with men.
 Had different roles and inheritances.
 Caliph- Successor to
Muhammad.
 Caliphate ruled from 600’s
to 900’s.
 Abu Bakr conquered parts
of the Byzantine Empire,
Persian Empire, Egypt, and
Spain through uniting
Muslims.
 Middle East- 600’s
 Began to fight North Africa, but later joined forces
against Spain in early 700’s.
 Indus Valley taken over in 700’s
 Seljuk Turks created an empire in India.
 Arabs were strong fighters, on cavalry and horses.
 Byzantine and Persian Empires were weak.
 United by their belief in Islam.
 Treated conquered peoples fairly.
 Sunni
 Shiite
 Caliph should be chosen
 Caliph should only be
by Muslim leaders.
 90% of Muslims.
descendents of
Muhammad.
 Believe they have to be
divinely inspired.
 Moved the capital to Damascus.
 Adapted to large cities, using Byzantine and Persian
traditions.
 Tensions developed between the rich and poor, and
Muslim and non Arab Muslims.
 Abu al-Abbas captured Damascus in 750.
 Made Islam a universal religion.
 Baghdad was made new capital.
 Declined in 850, allowing converted Seljuk Turks to
build empire.
 Social mobility
 Slavery was common
 Could buy their freedom.
 Female slave who married owner became free.
 Most were household servants.
Trading network brought Arabic numerals, common
language, and Islam to other places.
 Architects influenced by
Byzantine domes.
 Skilled in calligraphy.
 Nonreligious art
portrayed animal or
human figures.
 Minaret- slender tower
of mosque.
 Poetry written for praise, love, or based on holy book.
 Storytellers adapted tales from past cultures.
 Averrioes- influenced Christian scholars with
philosophical writings.
 Advances in Algebra.
 Developed astronomical tables.
 Medicine- set up hospitals, books on diseases were
standard texts in Europe later.
 Built a large trading culture that spread culture.
 Formed banks to exchange currency.
 Guilds organized to regulate prices and product
quality.
 Grew sugarcane, cotton, medicinal herbs, fruits, and
vegetables.
 Spain- The Moors encouraged the arts and education,
and continued toleration.
 Sicily- Effective government and growth of economy.
 Gradually influences Christian Europe.
 Delhi was the capital of India, defeating Hindu armies.
 Brought in Greek and Persian influences.
 1398- Tamerlane invaded, creating Muslim and Hindu
states in the North.
 Babur took control of India.
 Akbar the Great created a central government and
tolerated Hindus.
 Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his wife.
 Muhammad II took over Constantinople in 1453.
 Suleiman extended rule westward to North Africa.
 Research these aspects of the belief system that your
row is assigned. Highlight the information or write it
on another piece of paper.
 the origin
 key beliefs
 cultural significance