Chapter 10 Section 2
Building a Muslim Empire
I. Early Challenges to Islam
A.
B.
Death of Muhammad left no successor.
Abu Bakr- Muhammad’s father-in-law. He
became the 1st caliph.
1.
2.
C.
Muslims refuse to follow him and withdraw their
loyalty to Islam.
He regained their loyalty and united them under
one ruler.
Muslim Empire overtook both the Byzantine
and Persian Empires
II. Divisions Emerge Within Islam
A.
Shiites Felt Muhammad designated his
son-in-law, Ali, to lead Islam
1.
B.
Shiites could divinely interpret the Quran.
Sunnis Believe a pious male Muslim from
Muhammad’s tribe should be the leader.
A.
This leader is only a political figure
II. Divisions Emerge Within Islam
1.
C.
They believe inspiration comes from the example
of Muhammad recorded by his early followers.
Both Sunnis and Shiites are still divided
today.
1.
90% of Muslims are Sunni.
II. Divisions Emerge Within Islam
D.
Sufis Muslim mystics who fast, meditate
and do other traditions to find oneness with
God.
1.
They spread Islam by traveling, preaching, and
being a good example.
Review Questions

Who was the first caliph of Islam?


What sect of Islam believes the leader should be a
descendent of Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali?


Shiites
What power do Shiites believe they possess?


Abu Bakr
The ability to divinely interpret the Quran
What is the largest sect of Islam? Who do they
believe should lead Islam?

Sunnis believe a pious member of Muhammad’s tribe
should lead
III. Umayyad Caliphs Build an
Empire.
A.
Umayyad Caliphate Sunni group who set
up an empire after Ali’s death.
1.
B.
Spread Islam from Spain to India.
Reasons for Umayyad’s success:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Weakness of the Byzantines and Persians.
“Arab Liberators”.
Bold efficient fighting methods.
Desire to glorify Islam.
III. Umayyad Caliphates Build an
Empire
C.
Tolerant of Christians, Jews, and
Zoroastrians.
1.
2.
3.
Forced them to pay taxes.
Christians & Jews played key roles in Arab
societies (doctors, government officials).
Muslims prohibited looting and destruction of
cities.
III. Umayyad Caliph Builds an
Empire
D.
Reasons for converting to Islam:
1.
2.
3.
E.
For political or economic reasons.
Islam had a very simple message.
There is no hierarchy.
Umayyads begin to decline (fall in 750)
1.
2.
Arabs had to adapt from living in the deserts to
ruling huge territories.
Ruled like tribal leaders instead of kings.
III. Umayyad Caliph Builds an
Empire
3.
4.
They often relied on non-Arab officials to help
rule their land.
Tension between wealthy and poor Arabs
because of caliphs’ luxurious lifestyle.
Umayyad Review





When did the Umayyad Caliphate begin?
Why were the Persians and Byzantines
weakened?
What are 3 reasons why Umayyads were so
successful?
Why did so many people convert to Islam?
How did geography and economics play into
the decline of the Umayyad Empire?
Umayyad Review

When did the Umayyad Caliphate begin?


Why were the Persians and Byzantines
weakened?


After Ali’s death (661)
They had fought each other to the point of
exhaustion
What are 3 reasons why Umayyads were so
successful?

Weakness of Byz. and Per., “Arab Liberators”,
bold fighting styles, glory of Islam
Umayyad Review

Why did so many people convert to Islam?


For power or wealth, its simple message, equality
(no hierarchy)
How did geography and economics play into
the decline of the Umayyad Empire?


Arabs had to adapt from living in the desert to
ruling large territories and they ruled those lands
like tribes, not kingdoms (Geography).
Their was an economic between classes when
conquests began to slow down (Economics)