World History
Chapter 10B
The Spread of Islam
Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam
to the Middle East
• When Muhammad died in 632A.D. he had not
appointed his successor. Muslims believed
that Allah wanted the Islamic religion to be
spread all over the world and they needed
effective leadership to accomplish this goal
• Ancient tribal traditions in Arabia called for a
leader to be elected. In 632 Abu-Bakr was
elected and he was called Caliph-which means
successor or deputy
Abu-Bakr
Continued
• The first four Caliphs- Abu-Bakr, Umar,
Uthman, and Ali were called “The Rightly
Guided Caliphs”
• They led the Muslim forces to victory and
control of an area from Africa to India. They
were successful for the following reasons:
1. The armies had a firm belief in their cause
2. These forces were disciplined and well led
Continued
3. The methods they used were new and
effective
4. The Empires that they attacked, Persia and
Byzantium, were weakened by warfare
The Muslim Conquerors Treated
Defeated People Well
1. Conquered people were allowed to keep their
religion
2. Jews and Christians received special
treatment because they were “people of the
book”
3. They paid a special tax to enable them to
practice their religion free from persecution
Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis
• A civil war erupts when Uthman is
assassinated. His successor Ali is also killed in
661A.D. After this Caliphs are no longer
elected
Umayyad
• The Umayyad family comes to power and they
make the caliphate a hereditary office. They
move the capital of Islam to Damascus and
their rule lasts until they are overthrown in 750
• The rule of the Umayyad Dynasty causes
Islam to split into 3 groups
Umayyad Empire
Division of the Faith
• Shia-This group believes that the Caliph
should be a relative of Muhammad. Shia
means the party of Ali
• Sunni-This group believes in following
Muhammad’s example
• Sufi-These people reacted against the luxury of
the Umayyad Dynasty
Muslims Control Areas of Three
Continents
• The Abbasid Dynasty comes to power in 750
A.D., after the overthrow of the Umayyad
Dynasty
• They are based in Iran and Iraq and they move
the capital to a new city called Baghdad. This
city is located on ancient trade routes. This
trade in gold and other goods makes Baghdad
a very wealthy city
Links to the Mediterranean
• This Muslim trade network links the
Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean
• This trade connects India and China with
Europe and Africa
• Arabic becomes the regions common language
of trade
• The dinar becomes the currency of trade
Abbasid Dynasty
TA10C
Read Pages 273-279
Copy & Define Terms on Page 279
Copy & Answer Questions15, 16, 17, & 18 on
Page 280