Download Byzantine, Islamic and Middle Ages Key Events

Islamic World
Islamic Era - Chronology
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570 CE – Birth of Muhammed, founder of Islam
610 CE – Muhammed’s vision that creates Islam
(Archangel Gabriel comes to him)
622 CE – Muhammed leaves Mecca for Medina and
begins gaining converts – this event is known as the
Hegira (Hajj)
630 CE – Muhammed and followers return to Mecca and
overtakes the city – the Kabah is set up as major Islamic
shrine
632 CE – Death of Muhammed, his father-in-law Abu –
Bakhr takes over and creates the title caliph; begins the
creation of an empire of Islam by conquering neighboring
lands. At Abu-Bakhr’s death Umar takes over as caliph.
Muslims divide into many subgroups.
Islamic Era - Chronology
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718 CE – Spain is under Muslim control
734 CE – Battle of Poitiers – Muslim spread is stopped
by Charles Martel of France
762 – 766 CE – The Abbasid Dynasty takes over from
Umayyads (except in Spain) and move capital from
Damascus to Baghdad
788 – 879 CE – Several countries break free from
caliphate and set up individual kingdoms and dynasties
879 CE – Seljuk Turks begin conquest of Mesopotamia
and Persia
900 CE – Fatimids take over in Egypt and conquer all of
North Africa
Islamic Era - Chronology
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945 CE – Abbasid power falls to the Shiites
969 – 1171 CE – Fatimid Dynasty recreates a
smaller version of the Caliphate in Egypt
1037 – 1194 CE – Seljuk Turk Dynasty
1077 CE – Seljuk Turks conquer most of Arabia,
Palestine, Syria, Lebanon
1099 CE – Crusades begun against Muslims in
the Holy Land by Pope Urban
1187 CE – Saladin ends Western control of Holy
Land (Outremer) after Battle of Hattin
Islamic Era - Chronology
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1248 CE – Muslims lose control of most of Spain except
area around Granada
1251 CE – Malmuk Dynasty takes over caliphate in
Egypt
1258 CE – Abbasid Dynasty is completely wiped out by
Mongol invasion
1327 CE – Seljuk Empire collapses; Arab world splits
into several kingdoms
1453 CE – Ottoman Empire defeats the Byzantine
Empire; move capital to Istanbul (Constantinople)
1492 CE – Muslims completely expelled from Spain
5 Pillars of Faith – (Sunni)
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1) Shahadah – profession of faith – “There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is his messenger”
2) Salah – ritual prayer done 5x a day at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon,
sunset and evening
3) Zakat – giving to the poor – everyone must give something
depending on what they earn
4) Sawm – fasting during month of Ramadan – refraining from food,
drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk each day of the
month – also supposed to get along with others better and get closer
to Allah during this time (there are exceptions for health, etc.)
5) Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca – every able bodied Muslim must
make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime – must walk
around the Kaaba 7 times, touch the stone and symbolically throw
rocks at the devil
In Shiite Islam there are the additional pillars of Jihad (personal
struggle against Islam’s enemies) and Khum (giving a tithe to the
Imam)
Additional Component
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Jihad- Important concept in both Sunni and Shia
Islam, signifies a struggle. Two types, the
struggle within (which the Qu’ran deals mainly
with), and the struggle (wars of religion) without.
Shia consider the inner Jihad an essential
element of the faith.
 Jihad is often misused in terminology and in its
purpose. Terrorist group Al-Qaida is a Sunni
organization.
Sufism
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Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, dates back to
Muhammad’s lifetime
Forms of Sufism are found in both Sunni and Shi’a
Islam
Sufism has often stood in contrast to more
legalistically oriented approaches to Islamic life, to
the extent that some orthodox Sunnis do not consider
Sufis to be Muslim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnWxiy44fA –
Urdu Sufi Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_CfZxDfZA&feature=related - Dervishes
Other Branches of Islam
(Wahabi) – sect in 1700s that
believed any forms of Islam after the 900s
were wrong and need to be expunged, led
to many jihad’s against the Sunni’s in
particular.
 Against ostentation so no minarets on
mosques and only plain clothing allowed
 An orthodox, traditionalist branch
 Wahhabi
Other branches of Islam
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Ismailis – form of Shia, accepts 12 Imams, split on 6th
Imam and succession
Druze – offshoot of Ismaili sect, that promotes gnostic
philosophy, they believe the Fatimid Caliph will return on
Judgment Day as the Mahdi
Ahmadiyya – founded in 1889, claim Mahdi came and
his descendants are the caliphs in India
Hashashin – “Assassins;” an order of Ismailis that were
trained killers meant to harass the Sunnis and others
whom they considered heretics; rumors of the use of
hashish to prepare them for their suicide missions and
the promises of direct passage to heaven with wine and
women
Other branches of Islam
Kharijite – only surviving sect is the Ibadi; claim the
Imam must be pure spiritually and stand fast in their
faith; some Imams not accepted
 Ahl-e Haqq – believe that god continuously manifests
himself in reincarnations throughout time; world is
divided into 2 – internal and external
 Mahdavism – monastic version of Islam; focus on
prayer and meditation
 Moorish Science – founded in 1913 in America;
claims all African Americans are originally Moors and
therefore should be Muslim
 Nation of Islam – founded in Detroit in 1930; believes
Fard Muhammad was God on earth; “taking back the
true place of the black man and woman;” considered
heretical by most other Muslims
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Other Branches of Islam
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Babs/Baha’i – followers of Shiraz, who claimed to be
Mahdi (Messiah) and changed his name to “The
Bab”; broke away from mainstream Islam, and was
executed in Iran in 1850; teaches humanity is one
single race all coming from God
Sikhs – combination of Islam and Hinduism that
rejects both religions policies of discrimination;
equality of all humans
Nuwaubu – originally a sect of Islam; now more of a
New Age cult, believes extraterrestrial beings speak
through their founder Malachi York and reveal God’s
plan; use ancient Egyptian and Sumerian texts to
prove it.
A famous law from the Quran
 5.38.
As to the thief, Male or female, cut
off his or her hands: a punishment by
way of example, from Allah, for their
crime: and Allah is Exalted in power.
On Women
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Sura 4:3 says: “ And if you be apprehensive that you will not be
able to do justice to the orphans, you may marry two or three or
four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend that you
might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one
wife, or marry those who have fallen in your possession.”
Sura 4:34 says “Men are the protectors and maintainers of
women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than
the other, and because they support them from their means.
Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and
guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them
guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and
ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their
beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to
obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For
Allah is Most High, great (above you all)“
On suicide and killing
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“And do not kill yourselves, God is merciful with you. And whosoever does that
(kills self) with aggression and inequity, we will make them suffer in Hell fire, and
this is easy for God to do” (29-30, 4).
“He who kills a person without (the latter) having killed another person, it is as if
he has killed all of humanity, and he who makes one person survive, it is as if he
has caused all humanity to survive” (32,5)
"The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah's cause and nothing
compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be
recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be
admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it
difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for
Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah's cause and then made
alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His
cause."
Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in
the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and
whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in
his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever;
and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in
his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide
eternally forever."
The Quran on Christians and Jews
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5.51. O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends
and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah
guideth not a people unjust.
5.57. O ye who believe! take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith; but fear ye Allah, if
ye have faith (indeed).
5.60. Say: "Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from
Allah. those [people of the Book (Jews and Christians)] who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of
whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in
rank, and far more astray from the even path!"
5.64. The Jews say: "(Allah)'s hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy)
they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth.
But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and
blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the
fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who
do mischief.
5.69. Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the
Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor
shall they grieve.
5.72. They do blaspheme who say: "(Allah) is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel!
worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the
garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.
5.73. They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they
desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
5.74. Why turn they not to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.
5.75. Christ the son of Mary was no more than an apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him.
His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear
to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!
5.82. Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among
them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men
devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.
The Virgin Myth
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The Quran never mentions 72 virgins (it is in a Hadith (Islamic traditional
writings)
 The virgins mentioned in the Quran are for all Muslims, not just martyrs
 "Dark-eyed virgins sheltered in their tents (which of your Lord's blessings
would you deny?) whom neither man nor jinnee will have touched before."
 "The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: 'The smallest reward for the
people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72
wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and
ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to
Sana'a [Yemen]'."
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The word “hur” or Al-hur” can be translated in many ways, as hand
maidens (female servants); dark eyed virgins; voluptuous women or
“white pure raisins” and according to scholars, the use in the Hadith
was meant for raisins….
Islamic Terms
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Islam – submission to Allah (god)
Muslim – one who submits to the will of Allah
Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca
Imam – religious leader
Quran (Koran) – Muslim Holy Book
Sura – chapter in the Quran
Hegira (hajira) – the trip from Mecca to Medina
Qiyama – Day of Judgment
Jannah - heaven
Islamic Art Characteristics
 Geometric
Patterns
 No icons, rare animals
 Heavy use of plasterwork
 Quotations from Koran used as art –
calligraphy
 Plain interiors
 Water is used as a way to show off wealth
Islamic Art
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Dome of the Rock
680 - 692 CE
Jerusalem, Israel
Earliest major Islamic
building
Jerusalem is 3rd
holiest city to Muslims
Islamic Art
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Interior of Dome of the Rock
690 CE
Jerusalem, Israel
Interior is heavily decorated for
an Islamic building
The rock in the center marks
the alleged place where
Abraham was going to
sacrifice his first born son; it is
also the alleged place where
Muhammed was taken by
Gabriel on a mi’raj (spiritual
journey) to visit heaven and
hell
Islamic Art – Dome of the Rock
Great Mosque
Damascus, Syria
706-715
Islamic. The Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria.
Courtyard. 706-15.
Islamic. Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria. Detail:
Mosaic decoration. 715.
Islamic Art
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Cordoba Mosque
 786
 Cordoba, Spain
 Begun by Abd-al Rahman
 Umayyad Dynasty in
Spain’s influence is seen
here
 It is considered a
masterpiece of Islamic
architecture
Islamic Art
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Interior of La Mezquita
(Great Mosque of
Cordoba)
 8th – 10th C. CE
 Cordoba, Spain
 Typical Arab style
hypostyle hall
 Horseshoe arcades
decorate interior making
this one of the most
beautiful mosques in the
world
Dome in front of the mihrab
of the Great Mosque
Córdoba, Spain
961-965
Islamic Art
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Mosque of Sulayman II
 1550 – 1557 CE
 Istanbul, Turkey
 Artist: Sinan
 This is an enormous
Ottoman imperial mosque
– to compete with
Christian churches in the
area
 Has courtyard with
central fountain
Islamic Art
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Interior Mosque of
Sulayman
1550- 1557
Istanbul, Turkey
Artist: Sinan
Vast open space
created by domes
Limited decoration as
Islamic law prohibits
idols and idolatry
Islamic Art
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Interior Mosque of
Sulayman II
1550 – 1557 CE
Istanbul, Turkey
Sinan
The dome is supported
by 8 piers
It is over 197 ft high
The structural
components are the focus
rather than being hidden
Malwiya minaret of the Great Mosque
Samarra, Iraq
ca. 848-852
When rediscovered by Western archaeologists they believed it
to be the Tower of Babel in error
Malwiya minaret and Great Mosque
Samarra, Iraq
ca. 848-852
Islamic Art
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Court of the Lions
14th century CE
Granada, Spain
Located on the
grounds of the
Alhambra
The Nasrid Dynasty
built this to show
wealth with the use of
water
Muqarnas dome, hall of the Two Sisters
Alahambra Palace
Granada, Spain
1354-1391
Mausoleum of the Samanids
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
early 10th century
Despite Islamic prohibitions about extravagant burials – the
Samanid rulers built great monuments to death
Madrasa-mosque-mausoleum
complex of Sultan Hasan
Cairo, Egypt
1356-1363
Considered best of its kind
Qibla wall, main iwan
Madrasa-mosque-mausoleum
complex of Sultan Hasan
Cairo, Egypt
1356-1363
Qibla wall helps point faithful in right direction for prayer in any
mosque
Islamic Art
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Shah-namah book
page
1562 – 1583
Persia (Iran)
Book was written by
Firdawsi
It is a work of 60,000
couplets
Courtyard of the Great Mosque
Isfahan, Iran
11th to 17th centuries
Dome of the Shah Mosque
Isfahan, Iran
1611-1638
Islamic Art
 Kaaba
 Traditional
dating
c. 2000 BCE,
rebuilt 620-630 CE
 Mecca, Saudi
Arabia
 Holiest spot in the
world to Muslims
 Black stone inside
Islamic. The Kaaba, center of the Haram Mosque,
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Last rebuilt 1631.
Kaaba
Islamic. Muhammad Placing the Black Stone on His Cloak, from
Rashid al-Din’s Jami al-Tawarikh (Universal History), copied and
illustrated at Tabriz, Iran. 1315.
5-1/8" × 10-1/4".
Islamic Art
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Al Masjid Al Nabawi
7th-13th centuries CE
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Tomb of Mohammed
can be found under
the green dome
AKA – Dome of the
Prophet
Originally his house
Map: The Trans-Saharan trade routes, ca. 1350.
Eastern façade of Friday Mosque
Djenne, Mali
13th century, rebuilt 1906-07
Islamic Art
Islamic Art
Creating a culture of fear
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib9rofX
Ql6w – 3 Things About Islam
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHlb5FB
26Lo&NR=1&feature=fvwp – Islam World
Takeover
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxpZDl
vtOm8&feature=bf_prev&list=PLA03BD1C
50DB50487&lf=results_main – Mr Deity
and Matter
Islamic Art
 The
end . . .
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