Download Sunni and Shiite

Sunni and Shiite
Shiite
Sunni

Follow custom
of community
(sunna). Believe
inspiration
comes from
example of
Muhammad
90% of Muslims
True
descendants are
of Ali and
Fatima’s
children
Live in Iran,
Lebanon, Iraq
and Yemen
After Muhammad

No successor named after Muhammad
died
Abu Bakr-Muhammad’s father-in-law
and 1st caliph. Reunited Muslims and
converted last Arab tribe to Islam
After Ali died a Meccan clan set up
Ummayyad (caliphate). Dynasty of
Sunni caliphs ruled Muslim empire until
750.
Factors for Success
Weakened Byzantine
 and Persian
empires
Welcomed Arabs as liberators
Fighting method-Bedouin camel and
horse cavalry-mobile and aggressive
Tax on non-Muslims in conquered
areas
Many converted- equality, simple, no
Fall of Umayyads and Rise
of
Abbasids
Umayyads
Abbasids

 While conquests wealth
 Abu al-Abbas founder
went to Umayyads.
When they stopped
tensions built between
wealthy Arabs and those
who had less
 Criticized and wanted
ways of early caliphs
 Considered illegitimate
rulers of Islamic
community
 Captured Damascus 750
and dynasty lasted until
1258
 Had member of
Umayyad family killed.
 All but one escaped and
went to Spain where they
were more tolerant and
thrived
The Crusades

 900-Seljuk Turks came
from Central Asia to
Middle East
 1055-Suljuk sultan
controlled Baghdad
and kept caliph as
figurehead
 1095-Pushed into Asia
Minor and prevented
Christians from going
to Jerusalem.
Muslim Golden Era
Muslim scholars reintroduced
knowledge of

Greco-Roman civilization to later Europeans.
United diverse cultures-translated Greek,
Hindu and Buddhist text
Social Mobility Up, slavery common but
Islamic law encouraged freeing slaves as act of
charity.
Religion shaped arts and literature; banned
idol worship and artists could not portray God
or human figures in religious art
Muslim Golden Era

 Architecture-domed
mosques, adopted from
Byzantine buildings;
symbolic of Muslim
architecture
 Artists skilled in
calligraphy-decorated on
buildings
 Poetry- oral tradition,
wrote about desert
journeys, battles, joy of
clans, chivalry and
romance of nomadic life
Muslim Golden Era

 Mathematics- al-Khwarizmi pioneered study of
algebra. 800s-wrote book that was translated into
Latin. Became standard textbook in Europe.
 Medicine-Based knowledge on Ancient Greeks.
Physicians and pharmacists had to pass test. Set up
hospitals
India

 Muslims mingled with
Indians and each
civilization absorbed
elements from each other.
 550-Gupta empire fell and
India split, princes battled
for control
 1000-Muslim Turks and
Afghans moved to India
 Low caste Hindus
converted to Islam
Muslims in India

 1200s-scholars and adventurers fled Baghdad to
India. Brought Persian and Greek knowledge
 1398- Tamerlane invades India, enslaved thousand
artisans to build capital @ Samarkand
 Delhi slowly recovered. Sultans no longer controlled
empire and India split. Rival Hindu and Muslim
states
Hindus and Muslims in
India

Hinduism-ancient religion evolved over
thousand years. Sacred texts, prayed before
statues representing gods/goddess. Caste
system; celebrated with music and dance
Islam-newer faith with single sacred text;
monotheistic. No religious hierarchy. Did not
celebrate with music and dance.
Taj Mahal
Over time Delhi
sultans grew more
tolerant of Hindu
subjects. Allowed to
practice, paid a poll
tax.
Shah Jahan built Taj
Mahal as tomb for
her when she died.
Greatest monument
of Mughal empire.