Download WHI: SOL 8b

WHI: SOL 8b
Spread of Islam
Geographic influences on the origin
and spread of Islam
• Diffusion along trade routes from Mecca and
Medina
• Expansion despite great distances, desert
environments, and mountain barriers
• Spread into the Fertile Crescent, Iran, and
Central Asia facilitated by weak Byzantine and
Persian empires
Geographic influences on economic,
social, and political development
• Political unity of the first Muslim empire was
short-lived.
• Arabic language spread with Islam and
facilitated trade across Islamic lands.
• Slavery was not based on race.
Diffusion
• Diffusion of Islam
– Mohammed declared a jihad—a holy war undertaken
by Muslims against unbelievers.
– Islam claimed Mecca and portions of Arabia.
– Expansion continued after Mohammed’s death, but
Islam also spread through trade and travel, not just
through conquest.
• Division of Islam
– After the prophet’s death, there was division between
the Sunni and the Shi’a over the issue of who should
rule.
Shiite (Shi’a)
• Strict Islamic followers
• Believe the caliph MUST be a direct blood
descendant of Muhammad through his
daughter Fatima and Son-in-law Ali
• Predominantly in modern day Iran
Sunni
• Believe any devout Muslim can be caliph
• Does NOT have to be a direct descendant of
Muhammad
• Use Sharia as a basis but not followed exactly
• Most Muslims are Sunni****
Islamic Empires
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Umayyad (Sunni)
Abbasid (Shiite)
Seljuk (Sunni)
Mongols (from Mongolia, converted to Islam)
• Ottoman (Sunni- Turks)
• Safavid (Shiite- Persia)
Umayyad Empire
Abbasid Empire
Seljuk Empire
Mongols
Ottoman
Safavid