The Rise of Islam; 600-1200 World History AP Mr. Boschert Skyview High School Islam One of three Abrahamic, monotheistic religions Judaism & Christianity worship the same God as Muslims Two Branches: Sunnis: (Sunna=tradition) majority of Muslims Shi’ites: (“Party of Ali”) believe caliph descends from Ali Founder: Muhammad (570-632) Five Pillars of Islam Belief: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” Prayer: Must perform prescribed prayers five times a day Charity: “giving alms” giving part of one’s wealth to the poor Fasting: Refraining from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan Pilgrimage: Must visit Mecca once in life The Five Pillars: Islamic Beginnings Arabia=isolated, populated by semi-nomadic clans of Semitic speaking polytheistic people Trade routes shift south, Arabs control new routes Christian and Buddhist missionaries visit area 570: Muhammad born in Mecca, center of trade Orphaned by 5, marries rich widow, Khadija Troubled by economic inequalities, meditates Visited by Angel Gabriel who reveals God’s words Muhammad=last prophet in long line (Hebrews & Jesus) Allah’s messages written in the Quran Muhammad’s faith called Islam “submission to the will of Allah”; Muslims=“one who submits” Muhammad Building the Faith 622 C.E.: The Hijra Muhammad & umma leave Mecca for Yathrib Population of Yathrib converts to Islam, renamed Medina Old clan, family, and tribal distinctions replaced by umma Muhammad Rededicated Kaaba as Islam’s holiest site 632: defeats Mecca’s army, reenters city Muhammad dies, Abu Bakr named kalifa Dar al-Islam vs. Dar al-harb Jihad: struggle in the way of God, personal & external Caliph: successor of Muhammad, new leaders First four caliphs expand empire with Bedouin fighters Take lands from Byzantine Empire, defeat Sasanids Islam establishes political foundation with generation The Kaaba The Kaaba The Caliphate The Umayyad Caliphate First four caliphs build empire, do not stabilize Last “rightly guided caliph”—Ali—assassinated Umayyad clan of Mecca succeeds him Capital: Damascus, Syria Hereditary dynasty, religious tolerance Non-Arabs Umayyad Decline Many non-Arabs resent preference of Arabs Umayyad rulers increasingly oppressive Non-Arabs and other Arab clans form coalition not allowed to hold high government office Abbasi clan, under leadership of Abu al Abbas, lead revolt Umayyad dynasts flee to Spain, est. Iberian caliphate The Umayyad Caliphate The Abbasid Caliphate Abbasid caliphs move capital to Baghdad Located in Arabic-speaking Iraq, but close to non-Arabs Caliph = religious & political leader Ulama: Islamic scholars, sharia law, unity of the umma Sharia covers all aspects of practical and spiritual life Ulama become law makers guided by Quran and Hadith Ulama retains real religious power Mix of Persian & Byzantine royal norms Decentralized power, powerful provincial governors Turkish and Berber soldiers comprise bulk of army Greek art and philosophy influential, preserved Breakthroughs in sciences, philosophy, and art Muslim Opposition Sunni-Shiite Split Sunni Muslims (Arabic for “traditional”) Majority of Muslim World Accepted rule of Umayyad & Abbasid caliphs Shiah Muslims (from the Arabic Shi’at Ali “Party of Ali) Majority in Iraq & Iran with large groups in N. Africa Believe Ali was the rightful caliph Ali’s descendants called imams Both groups have own versions of Sharia & Hadith Decentralized rule prompts opposition, revolt Umayyad caliphs continue to rule in Spain Shiite leader Abu Abdallah takes control of Egypt Shiite Fatimid Caliphate, capital in Cairo Fatimid Egypt Women & Islam Arabs late to adopt patriarchy Men still married into women’s family, moved close Women work, own property, multiple husbands Increased relations with patriarchal Southwest Asians begins to decrease status of women Muhammad’s relations with women changes First wife Khadija was older, independent, equal Muhammad marries more wives after Khadija’s death Insist wives be veiled, favorite wife Aisha married at nine Women limited to one husband Quran reinforces patriarchy Women given certain rights and protections Dowries, evidence for moral crimes, infanticide Women cannot divorce, take multiple husbands Greater Islamic World Rival Islamic states try to outdo each other in artistic, intellectual, and scientific achievement Umayyad Spain Capital City: Cordoba, Spain Great Good relations between Muslims, Jews, and Christians Central Mosque of Cordoba built in arabesque style Asia Arabic numerals, Algebra, Ibn Sina and medicine Greek philosophy translated into Arabic Sub-Saharan Africa Trade & Islam expanded to West Africa Swahili Coast Gold, salt, and slaves Umayyad Spain
