ISLAM
SSWH5 The student will trace the origins and
expansion of the Islamic World between 600
CE and 1300 CE.
a. Explain the origins of Islam and the growth of
the Islamic Empire.
b. Identify the Muslim trade routes to India, China,
Europe, and Africa and assess the economic impact
of this trade.
c. Explain the reasons for the split between Sunni
and Shia Muslims.
d. Identify the contributions of Islamic scholars in
medicine (Ibn Sina) and geography (Ibn Battuta).
e. Describe the impact of the Crusades on both the
Islamic World and Europe.
f. Analyze the relationship between Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.

Muhammad – born in Mecca A.D. 570
◦ Mecca was a center of trade, with a mixture of
religions (Christians and Jews – monotheists,
and many Arabs who were polytheists)
◦ Worried about greed, mistreatment of the poor
and spent time in the desert thinking about life
and suffering.
◦ Said the angel Gabriel told him he was to be a
prophet of God (Allah).
How did Islam begin?

Message was simple: there is only one god,
Allah, and everyone is equal in his eyes, so
everyone should be treated equally.
(monotheistic)
◦ Merchants not happy with Muhammad’s new
religion. Saw it as a threat to the economy of
Mecca.
 Bedouins and Arabs visited Mecca on religious
pilgrimmages – Shrine of Kaaba and other statues of
Arabic gods. Mix of polytheism and animism.
 Afraid that if people of Arabia became Islamic, the
visits would stop.
What was Muhammad’s Message?
Muhammad left Mecca (622 C.E.) and
went to Medina – formed the beginnings
of an Islamic state.
 630 C.E. returned to Mecca with army of
followers to conquer city for Islam.

◦ Cleared Shrine of Kaaba of pagan gods and
rededicated it as Islamic house of worship.
◦ Appealed to Arabic people to follow him, whole
Arabian peninsula under Islamic rule.
Exile and Return
Qur’an/Koran – text revealed to
Muhammad over 22 year period by angel
Gabriel.
 Text written in Arabic, supposed to only
be read in Arabic to understand its truth.
 Became the holy book of Islam.

◦ Final authority in matters of faith and lifestyle.
Islamic Teachings




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1 – Profession of faith – no god but Allah,
and Muhammad is the messenger.
2 – five daily prayers (with ritual washing)
3 – paying zakat – annual tax to help the
poor.
4 – fasting during holy month of Ramadan
(no food from dawn to sunset )
5 – pilgrimage to Mecca
FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH
Sunnis
Shiites

Believed caliph, or
successor to
Muhammad, should be
chosen by leaders of
the Muslim community.

Believed that only
descendents of
Muhammad could
become caliph.

Viewed caliph as a
leader, not as a
religious authority.

Believed descendents
of Muhammad to be
divinely inspired.
Reasons for the Split: Sunni and
Shiites
GROWTH OF
ISLAMIC EMPIRE
•Policy toward conquered peoples –
often more tolerant than other
conquerors.
- did not demand conversion to
Islam.
- tolerant of Christians and Jews.
- could pay extra taxes or accept
Islam.
HOW DID THEY EXPAND SO QUICKLY?

As the empire expanded, Muslims gained
control of islands in the Mediterranean
and of important trade routes.
Muslim
Trade
Routes
and
Economic
Impact

Muslims were at the center of a trade
network that ran from Europe to China.
◦ Other cultures demanded quality goods
produced by Muslims.
 Textiles manufactured from silk, cotton and wool
 Beautiful woven tapestries and carpets
 Metal products (gold and silver)
 Steel swords
 Jewelry, perfumes, spices pottery, glassware
◦ Exchange of ideas with other cultures
 Astronomy, geography, medicine
Economic Impact of Muslim Trade
Routes
Medicine
Geography
Advances in development and
preparation of pharmaceutical
drugs.
 Technique of distillation
 Improvements to dissection
techniques
 New surgical instruments


◦ Illustrated book of techniques used
for centuries.


First to clearly describe and
distinguish between smallpox and
measles.
Ibn Sina wrote the encyclopedic
Canon of Medicine (early 1000s),
used in Europe until 1650.

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More accurate measurement
of distances on earth.
Better maps
Improved the astrolabe
(allowed you to chart your
position on earth based on
position of stars)
Ibn Battuta – travelled about
75,000 miles – visited the
kingdom of every Muslim ruler,
visited China – his travels
showed Muslim domination of
the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea,
the Indian Ocean, and the
Chinese waters.
Contributions of Islamic scholars

CRUSADES – Christians, Jews and
Muslims all considered Palestine a holy
land. The Muslims took control of it in the
600s, and generally let Jews and
Christians practice their own religion,
travel freely and trade. This changed
during the Middle Ages.
◦ The Crusades were a series of military
expeditions to regain the Holy Land.
◦ About 10,000 Europeans participated.
CRUSADES (1095-1291)
By the end of the Crusades, the Muslims
had regained control of Palestine.
 Created bad feelings between Muslims
and Christians, still exist today.

IMPACT OF CRUSADES ON
ISLAMIC WORLD

Had long-term effects:

ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS
◦ Helped increase authority of kings by speeding up the
breakdown of feudalism.
◦ Renewed interest in learning (Renaissance)
◦ Created demand for spices, sugar, and silk.
◦ Helped advance technology – better maps, magnetic
compasses, and improved military techniques (catapults to
throw rocks, gunpowder)
◦ Growth in economy because of interest in products from
east and farming advances.
 Heavier plow, collar harness
◦ Development of trade fairs, banking, rise of merchant and
middle class.

Church became more powerful, especially popes.
IMPACT OF CRUSADES ON EUROPE
Christianity and Islam have roots in
Judaism. (all trace faith back to Abraham)
 All three are monotheistic.
 All three have similar relationships with
God.

◦ All believe God created heavens and earth and
that no other god should be worshiped.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISLAM,
JUDAISM, AND CHRISTIANITY