Download The Rise of Spread of Islam

THE RISE OF SPREAD OF
ISLAM
Chapter Six
AP World History
Ms. Tully
The PostClassical Period: Faith and
Commerce
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Spread of major
world religion
Development of
systematic
international trade
Three Big Concepts
Pre-Islamic Arabia
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Bedouin culture based
on kin/clan/tribal
networks
Shayks – clan/tribal
leaders
Fierce interclan rivalries
and struggles for
resources
Towns and long-distance
trade  Mecca &
Medina
Pre-Islamic Arabia
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Status of women
varied by clan
Little art/architecture
– focus on poetry
Bedouin religions –
blend of animism &
polytheism
The Life of Muhammad & Gensis of
Islam
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Born around 570 CE 
Merchant, married
Khadijah
One of many prophets
concerned about life in
Arabia
610 CE – Muhammad
receives revelations from
angel Gabriel
Qu’ran  basis of new
religion
The Fight for Islam in Arabia
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Umayyads in Mecca saw
Muhammad as a threat
Muhammad flees to
Medina  Hijra
620s – Conflict between
Muhammad’s Median
forces & Umayyad
controlled Mecca
Destroyed old idols,
Mecca now under Islamic
faith
The Appeal of Islam
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Monotheism dominated
any tribal or class
divisions
Umma – Community of
the faithful
Provided ethical
system  Qu’ran
Similarity/unity with
other Semitic religions
The Appeal of Islam
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Five Pillars of Islam
 Profession
of faith
 Pray 5x day
 Fast during Ramadan
 Pay Zakat for charity
 Perform a Hajj
Muhammad’s Successor?
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Died in 632 – who should
succeed him?
Creation of Caliph –
political and religious
successor to Muhammad
Ali – Muhammad’s son-inlaw?
Abu Bakr – Muhammad’s
close friend
Ridda Wars  military
campaigns against rebel
Arab clans
Spread of Islam
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New sense of unity & strength
Booty came from conquests
Jihad theory of conquest not true
Sasanian empire weak  overthrown by 651
Byzantines weakened by Arabs, but not destroyed
Rise of naval supremacy
Rivals to Islamic Expansion
Spread of Islam
The Sunni-Shi’a Split
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The main division between Sunni and Shia Muslims is
originally not a religious one, but a political one.
Sunni Muslims: Abu Bakr was the best choice as caliph;
caliphs should be chosen from the umma (Muslim
community). (85%)
Shia Muslims: Ali should have been picked as caliph
(successor should have been kept in the family). They do
not recognize the authority of Sunni Muslim leaders.
(15%)
Over centuries, differences in belief and law develop
which contributes to many major disputes in the region
until this day
Geographic Distribution of Sunni/Shi’a
Caliphs & Caliphates
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Caliph = Islamic religious and political leader
Caliphate = dynasty of Islamic caliphs
Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliphs (632-661)
Abu Bakr; Umar; Uthman; Ali
Umayyads (661-750, centered in Damascus)
Abbasids (750-1258, centered in Baghdad)
Córdobas (756-1031, Iberia)
Fatimids (909-1171, North Africa, Shi’a)
Almohads (1145-1269, North Africa, Iberia)
Ottomans (1517-1922)
Umayyad Caliphate
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Political center moved
to Damascus
Small Arab & Muslim
aristocracy ruled over
empire of nonArabs/Muslims
Mawali – Non-Arab
Muslim converts
Dhimmi – people of
the book
Umayyad Caliphate
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New expectations for women & marriage
Umayyads addicted to luxury – big reason for
downfall
Revolts in empire began in 740 CE  Rise of
Abbasid challenge
Abbasid defeated Umayyads in 750  hunted
down all members of Umayyad family
‘Abd al-Rahman escaped  formed caliphate in
Cordoba
Abbasid Caliphate
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Moved capital to Baghdad
Bureaucratization of empire
 Wazier
Full integration of converts
Rise in the status of
merchants  Growth of
cities
Translation and
preservations of classical
texts
Key to development of
great trade routes