CHAPTER 1, SECTION 4 “LECTURE NOTES”
Islam = Arabic word that means = submission to Allah (the one true God.)
-Muhammad (the Prophet), born in Mecca (Makkah) in Arabian Peninsula.
-Muslims believe in holy writings of the Quran (Koran = teachings of Muhammad.)
-Muslims trace the history of their faith to Abraham, believe sections of the Bible were inspired by Allah
and believe Jesus was a prophet (but not the son of God as Christians do.)
-A.D. 622 Muhammad escaped from angry polytheists by fleeing from Mecca to Medina (starting event of
the Muslim calendar.)
-Muslim calendar tracks the lunar cycle (of the moon.) The crescent moon is a symbol of Islam.
-Five Pillars of Islam: (belief, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage)
-Ramadan, 9th month, holy month of fasting & prayer to commemorate Muhammad receiving words of the
Quran from Allah.
-Islam spread quickly, united Arabia, spread through South Asia & North Africa through holy wars (jihads.)
-Western civilization “evolved” into democratic governments (freedom of religion & separation of
church & state.)
-Islamic civilization “traditionally” has had theocratic governments (Islam & government closely
connected, not separated as in the “West.”)
Middle Ages (Medieval Period) of Europe
-A.D. 800 Coronation, Charlemagne crowned emperor of Holy Roman Empire by Catholic Pope Leo III.
-All classes in Western Europe (including emperor) were subject to spiritual authority of Catholic Church.
England = High Middle Ages
-1066 William of Normandy defeated King Harold & was crowned new king of England.
(All English lords were required to swear loyalty to William.)
-1215 English lords rebelled against King John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter)
-Magna Carta limited power of kings in writing (vs. “absolute power” or “divine right of kings.”) It gave
rights to “the people,” including the right to trial by jury.
-Principles of the Magna Carta were adopted by American colonies.
-English parliament (voted on new taxes, debated politics & passed laws.)
-Monarch would consult parliament (especially when money was needed!)
Upper House = House of Lords (nobles & church officials)
Lower House = House of Commons (knights & townspeople)
-Both monarch & parliament “shared power,” but eventually parliament became the dominant power
(through victorious battles over the king’s forces.)
Europe in High & Late Middle Ages
-High Middle Ages = Strong leadership by the popes, productive farming methods, growth of cities, more
trade between people.
-Late Middle Ages (c. A.D. 1300 to early 1400s) = Bubonic Plague (Black Death) killed 1/3 of Europeans!
-Plagues caused a decline in power of the church, commerce, peace & stable governments.
Renaissance and Reformation
-Renaissance = rebirth of Greek & Roman culture began in Italy (plagues diminished.)
-Intellectuals & artists emphasized importance of the individual (major impact on modern Western
Civilization!)
-High regard for human worth led to a new spirit of optimism & inspiration for excellence
-Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant man with multiple interests and skills (considered to be a “Renaissance
Man.”) He was: painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, mathematician & illustrator of human anatomy!
-Reformation was an intellectual revolution in the church (“Religious renaissance”.) It raised questions
about Catholic practices.
-Protestant Reformation = new branch of Christianity in Europe
-Martin Luther = German Catholic monk openly questioned church practices (posted 95 theses on door of
cathedral.)
-1520 summoned before emperor & church officials in Worms to answer to charges of heresy.
-Defended all of his writings based upon Scripture & on human reasoning.
-Protestant churches (Lutheran, Calvinist, etc.) quickly spread throughout Europe
-Catholic & Protestant forces prepared for “religious” battle.