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Islam World History I Heritage High School Mr. Irwin Main Idea Muhammad unified the Arab people both politically and through the religion of Islam. Birthplace of Islam • Originated in Saudi Arabia • Early Islamic cities: Medina and Mecca • Founder: Muhammad Terminology • The religion is called ISLAM. • The people are MUSLIMS. • An ARAB is someone: – Who can trace ancestry to tribes of Arabia – Whose first language is Arabic – And/or who is a citizen of a country where Arabic is the official language or the country is a member of Arab League Setting the Stage • The cultures of the Arabian Peninsula were in constant contact with each other for centuries. • Southwest Asia (aka the Middle East) was a bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe, where goods were traded and ideas were shared. • Arabian Peninsula – crossroads of 3 continents – Africa – Asia – Europe • Crossroads of Trade & Ideas Bedouins were nomads who lived in the desert and organized into tribes called clans. – Bedouins provided security and support. • • • • Areas in the desert with more fertile soil and the larger oases had enough water to support farming communities. Larger towns near the western coast of Arabia became market towns for local, regional, and long distance trade goods. Merchants from the Byzantine and Sassanid (Persian) Empires moved along caravan routes, trading goods from the Silk Road. – Spices and incense – Information and ideas from outside Arabia Mecca – important stop on the trade route – Caravans carrying religious pilgrims stopped in Mecca during the holy months – Mecca had a simple house of worship called the Ka’aba • It was associated with Abraham Myth #1: Most Muslims are Arabs who live in the Middle East. Reality: Of more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide, only about 1/5 are Arabs. Try to Guess: Which country has more Muslims than any other country in the world? Answer: Indonesia - with over 200 million Muslims. Note: The U.S. has about 5 million Muslims. Myth #2: Muslims have a strange religion and worship a god called Allah. Reality: Muslims are monotheistic and worship the same one God as Christians and Jews. Founder: Muhammad – The Prophet • Born in Mecca, Arabia. – Orphaned as a young boy • Became involved in the Arabian caravan trade. • He eventually married a wealthy widow – Became unsatisfied with wealth, so he spent many hours meditating and praying in the caves around Mecca. • Believed that God spoke to him through the angel Gabriel • Religion of Islam based on his revelations Muhammad and Monotheism • Muhammad believed that the one, true God had spoken to him, and became a monotheist. • Believed that the God who spoke to him was the same God of the Jews and Christians. • Also believed that he was the Seal of the Prophets or God’s final prophet. – Accepted and believed in other Judeo-Christian prophets including Moses and Jesus • Islam – Arabic for “submission to the will of Allah” – Muslim – “one who has submitted” Keep this in mind: Allah’ is the Arabic word for ‘God.’ ‘ The Hijra • Because the people of Mecca feared Muhammad’s teachings would lead to the neglect of the traditional Arabic gods – Afraid it would lose position as a pilgrimage center which would lead to loss of economy • In 622 C.E., A warning of assassination forced Muhammad and his followers to leave Mecca • They settled in Yathrib (200 miles north) and this became known as the Hijra – Yathrib was later renamed Medina which mean “city of the prophet” • During the next decade, as the Muslims and the people of Mecca battled each other, Mecca’s power declined Return to Mecca • In 630 C.E., Muhammad and 10,000 followers marched to the outskirts of Mecca, and facing defeat the people of Mecca surrendered • Muhammad entered Mecca and went to the Ka’aba and the idols were destroyed – He then spoke to the people about Allah was the one true God, and pardoned everyone who fought against him – He also made Mecca a holy place which allowed Mecca to regain its position as a pilgrimage center • Most of the people converted to Islam and pledged loyalty to Muhammad – They united into a Muslim religious community • Muhammad united the people and was made a political leader, but fell ill and died on June 8, 632 C.E. Holy Book – The Qur'an (Koran) • Official religious text of Islam • Muslims believe that the words of the Qur'an are God’s words to Muhammad • Also used as a book of guidance for Muslims Why it Matters… Islam is the world’s fastest growing major religion, and therefore it has a strong impact on millions of people. Myth #3: Muslims believe it is okay to kill civilians in a holy war (“jihad”). Reality: Only Muslim extremists (groups like Al-Qaeda) believe this. Most Muslims did not agree with jihads. Five Pillars of Faith • The Five Pillars of Faith are five critical beliefs/actions for Muslims to live a good life according to the faith Shahadah – Profession of Faith • It is a statement that professes monotheism and accepts Muhammad as God’s messenger • Translated from Arabic as: "[I profess that] There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God." Salat - Prayers • Must pray 5 times (at certain times) a day facing Mecca Zakah – Paying of Alms • Alms – charity to the poor • If able to do so, Muslims must give at least 2.5% of income • This is mandatory, or NOT optional Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan • Muslims must abstain from food and drink, from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins. • The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness to Allah, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca • All Muslims, if able to do so, must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life • Shows devotion to Allah Myth #4: Most Muslim women wear veils over their faces and are treated very badly. Reality: • Muslim women have many different styles of dress. (Very few cultures require women to cover their faces.) • The treatment of women varies from country to country and family to family. • Some Muslim countries, like Pakistan, have had female prime ministers. The U.S. has never had a female president. • Muhammad is believed to have said that they should “be good to the women” Pakistani dress (left); Saudi Arabian (right) Types of Islamic dress for Women Spread of Islam Spread of Islam • Appeal of straightforward requirements of human conduct and promise of heavenly rewards • Much diffusion along trade routes – Caravans (groups traveling in a long line) helped spread • Spread into Fertile Crescent, Iran, and Central Asia then eventually into Byzantine Empire and Africa • Arabic language spread with Islam – Qur’an was not translated into other languages After Muhammad • Death of Muhammad: leads to civil war and split in Islam – Argument over who was to succeed Muhammad • Muhammad had not named a successor or instructed his followers how to choose one • “Rightly Guided” Caliphs – Caliph – title that means “successor” or “deputy” • The rightly guided caliphs were: – Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali • They were rightly guided because they used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions as guides to leadership Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis • Murder of Uthman triggered a civil war • A family known as the Umayyads came to power – Set up the hereditary system of succession – Also moved Muslim capital to Damascus • Made it easier to control conquered territories – Also abandoned the simple life of previous caliphs and began to surround themselves with wealth and ceremonies similar to non-Muslim rulers Sunni – Shi’a Split • Sunni: believed that the leader should be elected • Muhammad’s closest friend, Abu Bakr, was elected • Makes up about 70-85% of Muslims • Shi’a/Shiite: believed leadership should have passed to Muhammad’s cousin/son-in-law Ali • Successor should be descendent of Muhammad • The Sufi is a group that believed in the Umayyads rule but thought they were too concerned with the luxuries of life • They gave up the luxuries and pursued a life of poverty and devotion. Muslims Control Areas of 3 Continents • When the Abbasids came to power, they murdered the remaining members of the Umayyads family. • Abbasids’ strength lay in the former Persian lands (Iran, Iraq, and central Asia). • Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad to solidify their power Reasons for Muslim Success • Muslim armies were well disciplined and expertly commanded • Armies were able to overwhelm forces unaccustomed to their warfare • Byzantine and Persian Empires has been fighting each other making it easy for the Muslims to take over lots of their land More Turning Points • Conquest and capture of Damascus and Jerusalem • Baghdad became an Islamic capital – Major trading city • Defeat of Muslims at Battle of Tours in 732 – Stopped Muslim expansion into Western Europe Muslim Trading Power • Two major sea trading zones (Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean) linked the Muslim empire to a world system of trade by sea • Land trade connected the Islamic Empire to the Silk Road which connected the empire to China, India, and Europe • It encouraged flow of trade, and so they set up banks along the trade routes • A lot of wealth flowed into the empire Cultural Contributions of Islam • Muslims combined and preserved the traditions of many peoples and encouraged advanced learning in a variety of areas • Many of the ideas developed during this time period became the basis of today’s scientific and academic studies Muslim Society • Four Social Classes – Upper class: included those who were Muslim at birth – Second class: included people who converted to Islam. Paid higher taxes, but not as high as the third class – Third class: consisted of the protected people. Protected people were Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians – Last class: consisted of slaves. These slaves were prisoners of war and all were non-Muslim Role of Women in Muslim Society • Shair’a gave Muslim women specific and legal rights concerning: – Marriage – Family – Property • The Qur’an provided for the care of: – – – – Widows Orphans Allowed for divorce Protected women’s inheritance • Muslim women had more rights than European women of the same time period Emphasis of Academic Advancement • Muslims had practical reasons for supporting advancement in science and math – Wanted only the best curing their illnesses – Needed astronomers and mathematicians to calculate times of prayer • Both Umayyads and Abbasids encouraged scholars to collect and translate scientific and philosophical knowledge texts – Translated Greek and Roman texts into Arabic • In 800s, Caliph al-Ma’mun opened in Baghdad a combined library, academy, and translation center called the House of Wisdom • Allowed Islamic culture to advance while Europe largely lagged behind because of lack of education Architecture • Greatest example of cultural blending in the Muslim world • Mosques tended to blend Byzantine architecture with Muslim ideas – Huge domes, vaulted ceilings • Dome of the Rock – found in Jerusalem – Built on the site of Solomon’s Temple Architecture Language and Literature • Language – Arabic • The Qur’an is the standard for all Arabic literature and poetry • During the Abbasid caliphate, literature included poems about nature and pleasures of life Example of Arabic alphabet Medical Advances • Al-Razi, Persian scholar, was considered the greatest physician of the Muslim world • He wrote an encyclopedia called Comprehensive Book that drew on knowledge from Greek, Syrian, Arabic, and Indian sources • Also wrote about smallpox and measles • Believed people needed clean air to heal Science and Math • • • • • • Muslims translated and studied Greek texts But did not follow Greek methods of solving problems Preferred to solve problems by conducting experiments Math – basis of all knowledge Invented algebra Advances in math related to study of astronomy – Observatories charted stars, comets, and planets • Ibn al-Haytham made proposals about optical vision that led to development of lenses for telescopes and microscopes Muslims borrowed the concept of zero from India and developed Arabic numerals. Philosophy and Religion • Ibn Rushd in his writings tried to harmonize Aristotle’s and Plato’s views with those of Islam • Argued that Greek philosophy and Islam had the same goal: to find the truth • Scholars translated works of Aristotle and Plato into Arabic Art • Islam forbade the depiction of living beings – Based on the idea that only Allah can create life – Pictures of living beings were considered idolizing • Many turned to calligraphy, the art of beautiful handwriting • Decorative art such as woodwork, glass, ceramics, and textiles were also used as a creative outlet Impact of Islam • Islam is an important religion, which shares many beliefs and practices with Christianity and Judaism. • Muslims live in many different countries. Islam is especially widespread in Africa, Asia, and southeastern Europe (the Balkans). • Islam has had a great impact on world art and culture.