The
Spread Of
Islam
100%
Islam
Crisis
• Muhammad dies
in 632
• Muslims now had
to find a new
leader
• Muhammad did
not name a
successor
Solution
• Muslims chose
Abu-Bakr who
was a loyal friend
of Muhammad
• He became the
first Caliph
• Caliph – (kay-lif)
means successor
or deputy
Abu-Bakr
• After Muhammad died some
Muslims…
– Refused to pay taxes
– Tried to say they were
prophets themselves
– Some tribes abandoned Islam
• In order to get things under
control, Abu-Bakr used the
military to get authority.
Muslim State
• By the time Abu died, the Muslim state
controlled all of Arabia
• Under the next 2 caliphs they took:
– Syria
– Lower Egypt
– Parts of Persia
• By 750 they controlled from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Indus River (2x the width
of the USA!!)
Muslim Troops
• They were
successful because
they were
– Willing to struggle till
the end for Islam
– Well disciplined
– Expertly commanded
• Enemies were not
used to their style of
warfare
Byzantine and Persia
• The Byzantines and Persia were
already weak from long time
conflicts
• The people welcomed Islam
Treatment of
Conquered
People
• Muslims were tolerant of conquered
people
• The Quran forbids forceful conversion
–They let others keep their religion if they
paid a poll tax
–People who did not convert were not
allowed to spread their own religions
• Pg
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