Download Geographic influences on the origin and spread of Islam

“Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, La Allah Il,
La Allah Il Allah U Mohammed Rassul Allah”
The revelations of Muhammad form the basis of
the Islamic religion, a monotheistic faith.
Origins of Islam
• WHO? The Prophet (Muhammad)
• WHERE? Mecca & Medina (early Muslim cities)
on the Arabian Peninsula
• HOW?
Ideas and travel related to the Ka’aba
Islamic traditions and customs developed over
centuries and created a distinct Muslim culture.
Beliefs, Traditions, and Customs of Islam
• Allah – Arabic word for “God”
• Qur'an (Koran) – Arabic for “word of God” / holy book
• Accepts Judeo-Christian prophets like Moses & Jesus
• Five Pillars of Islam
Five Pillars of Islam
•Creed (Shahada) statement of faith
•Prayer (Salat) 5 times/day; facing Mecca
•Alms/charity (Zakat) giving to the poor
•Fasting (Sawm) abstaining from food/drink
•Hajj (Hajj) holy trip to Mecca
Geographic influences on the
origin and spread of Islam
Geographic influences on the origin
and spread of Islam
• Spread along trade
routes from Mecca and
Medina (diffusion)
• Expanded despite
great distances:
– Crossed deserts and
mountains
• Spread into Fertile
Crescent, Iran, and
Central Asia, facilitated
by weak Byzantine and
Persian empires
Influence of geography on economic,
political, and social development
• Political unity of the first Muslim
empire was short-lived
• Arabic language spread with
Islam and facilitated trade
across Islamic lands
• Arabic language also stimulated
intellectual activity
• Slavery not based on race
Major historical turning points
in the spread of Islam
Major historical turning points marked the spread and influence of Islamic civilization.
•Death of Ali: Sunni vs. Shi’a division
•Muslim conquest of Jerusalem & Damascus during the Crusades
•Islamic capital moved to Baghdad
•Muslims defeated at the Battle of Tours (France in 732 A.D.)
•Fall of Baghdad to the Mongols
Sects of Islam
The Sunni and Shi’a (Shiites)
Sunni
Shi’a (Shiite) (followers of Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law)
• Approximately
90%
ofof
Muslims
•Approximately
10%
Muslims
•Think Muhammad’s
should
be be
hischosen
relatives
• Believed
successors to successor
Muhammad
should
by the
community
•Believed in an intermediary called an Imam
•Those
with religious
authority(middle-man)
should rule government
too
• Do
not believe
in intermediary
between Allah
and people
Successors of Muhammad
• Abu Bakr is chosen as Caliph
– Bakr’s advisor becomes caliph later.
• To avoid civil wars of succession, each
diverted attention by invading neighboring,
non-Muslim nations.
• Weak Persian and Byzantine empires made
conquest easy.
Spread of Islam
Islamic cultural contributions and achievements
Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts
that transformed the Islamic world and contributed to world civilization.
• Architecture: Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)
• Mosaics
• Arabic alphabet
- Translation of ancient texts into Arabic
• Universities
‫الى‬
Science and Math
Urban Life
o Arabic numerals
(adapted from India),
includes 0
o Algebra
o Medicine
o Geographic Maps
o Cities like Baghdad and
Córdoba
o Home to learning centers
o Linked to other cities by
trade
Muslim Culture
Arts and Literature
o Mosaics
o Koran
o One Thousand and
One Arabian Nights
Society
o Four classes
o Protection of women’s legal
rights;
o Tolerant of Christians and
Jews
Islamic scientific contributions and achievements
Early Islamic civilization was characterized by achievements in science and the arts
that transformed the Islamic world and contributed to world civilization.
• Arabic numerals (adapted from India), includes 0
• Algebra
• Medicine
• Expansion of geographic knowledge = maps
Dome of the Rock
Kaaba in Mecca
Mosaic
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Arabic numerals
Medicine
Universities
Arabian desert