Download The Beginnings of Islam - LAS World and US History Mr. Chris Stewart

Life on the Arabian
Peninsula
Chapter 3, Lesson 1
Homework Review Questions
Identify & Example:
1) sedentary 2) caravan 3) local 4) regional 5) Ka’aba 6) Allah 7)
Main Idea:
①
Describe the geography of the Arabian peninsula? What type of
people lived there?
②
Why was the Arabian peninsula good for trade?
Summarize:
①
The importance of Mecca to Arabs.
Critical Thinking:
①
Why does trade lead to cultural exchange?
Words to Know
Arid (n.)
Def: receiving
little or no
rainfall; dry
Ex: Don’t throw
spices into your
eyes.
Def: for a long
time;
continuously
Ex: He is
permanently
working on HW.
Ex: I have never
lived in arid
climate.
Spice (n.)
Permanently
Def: plant
substance, such
as cinnamon or
pepper, that is
used to flavor
food.
Flock (n.)
Ex: 7th Grade A
Day History is a
flock of students
who proudly
disrespect their
education.
Def: travel in
large groups
A Desert Culture

Arabian peninsula: region of Southwest
Asia (map pg. 87)



Covers nearly 250,000 square miles;
“the empty quarter”
¼ size of United States
Location: between Red Sea & Persian
Gulf



Very arid: receives little rain, covered
in deserts
Effect: only small amount of land is
useful for agriculture
Farmland: southern mountains,
northern coastline
Nomads

Bedouins: Arab herders  nomadic (always moving)


Oasis: desert area that contains water


People who lived at oasis live sedentary life
Trade:



Looking for 1) water and 2) grazing lands for their herds
Bedouins trade animal products to settled people
Oasis people trade food they grow to Bedouins
Family Life




Clans: families of people related by blood or marriage
Clans organize their own government
Clans provide security and support
Bedouins proud of their fighting skills (had to protect themselves
from other clans)  would become army of Muslim Empire
Growth of Trade Cities

Arabian peninsula = good for trade



600s: Arabs populating market town or oases



Crossroads of 3 continents: Asia, Africa & Europe
Also surrounded by water: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea,
Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf
Market towns grow into cities  become center of trade
Large settlements (Aden, Mecca, Medina, Petra) on western
coast = centers of local, regional and long-distance trade
Trade items


Spices from India
Ivory from Africa
Trade Routes & Goods

Trade routes ran from southern tip of Arabian peninsula to
Byzantine and Persian empires to the north

Camel caravans: a company of travelers journeying together


Trade items: animals, textiles, metals, crops, spices (pepper,
saffron)
Trade = cultural exchange


Merchants carried information as well as products
Ex: gain knowledge of different religions in places you visit
Holy City of Mecca


Mecca = important religious center & trading center

Caravans stop in Mecca during holy months

Ancient shrine: Ka’aba (cube-shaped stone building)  located
in middle of the city
Ka’aba associated with Abraham (important figure in Jewish,
Christian & Islamic mythology)




Muslims: believe Arabs are descendants of Abraham
& believe Abraham and his son built Ka’aba as a temple to God
(Allah in Arabic)
Belief in one god: monotheism
Pilgrimage: journey to a sacred place

All Muslims must travel to Mecca once in their lives
Islam and Muhammad
Chapter 3, Lesson 2
Homework Review Questions
Identify & example:
1) Allah 2) Arabic 3) Hijrah 4) prophet 5) unify 6) inheritance 7)forbidden 8)
tolerate 9) persecute
Main Idea:
①
What did Muhammad preach? How is Islam different from many ancient
religions?
②
Compare and contrast the two primary sources of authority for Islam.
Summarize:
①
3 parts of Muhammad’s leadership.
②
5 pillars of Islam.
Critical Thinking:
①
What are some of the similarities and differences between Islam and
Judo-Christian belief structures?
Words to Know
Angel (n.)
Def: a spiritual
being that serves
God or acts as
God’s messenger
Ex: Do you
believe in angels?
Guidance (n.)
Ex: Mr. Igor
will give you
guidance on
how to become
a better
student, if you
ask.
Will (n.)
Def: wish, desire,
or intention
Ex: It is Mr. Igor’s
will that you all
become good
students.
Def: help or
advice
Judgment day (n.)
Ex: The day you don’t
do your HW will be
your judgment day.
Def: day at the end of
the world when God
judges each person’s
life
Life & Teachings



Muhammad

Born to powerful Meccan family (A.D 570)

Orphaned as child, worked in caravan

At 25, married wealthy businessman  became merchant
40 years old: voice says “you are the messenger of god”

Muhammad believes god spoke to him

Preached: only one God named Allah, all other gods must be rejected

Islamic followers = Muslims

Islam: (in Arabic) “peace through submission to the will of god
Early failure

Meccans persecuted early Muslims (new = fear)

622: Hijrah (migration) to Yathrib (later Medina: “city of the Prophet”)

Followers liked Muhammad's simple message and strong leadership
Muhammad’s Leadership

630: Muhammad and 10,000 Muslims return to Mecca 
force city to surrender

Muhammad forgave Meccans, dedicated Ka’aba to Allah

Muhammad’s Leadership:
1)
2)
3)

Religious leader: ruled Medina, united followers with other
Arabs, Jews & Christians
Political leader: made treaties with nomadic tribes
Military leader: defended Medina against attacks
By 632: Muhammad had unified much of Arabian peninsula
under Islam
Islamic Belief, Practices & Law
The Qur’an
The Sunnah

Main teaching: there is only
one god, Allah

Muhammad’s 2nd goal: apply
teaching to everyday life

Allah spoke to angel
Gabriel, who spoke to
Muhammad

The Sunnah: Muhammad’s
words and deed = guides for
proper living

Qur’an: Muhammad’s
teachings memorized by
followers, written in Arabic

Later: Islamic legal thinker
organized Qur’an & Sunnah into
system of law

Rules of inheritance and
punishment for criminals
Muslim Daily Life

Muslims: connect personal and religious lives

Five Pillars of Islam: duties all Muslims must perform to
demonstrate their submission to the will of Allah
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Faith: believe in Allah
Prayer: 5 times a day, facing Mecca
Alms: give to the poor and need
Fasting: during month of Ramadan; avoid all food from sunrise to
sunset
Pilgrimage: to Mecca, once in lifetime (if possible)
Other customs and laws


Forbidden to east pork (pig) or drink alcohol
Friday afternoons = community worship and prayer in Mosque
(Islamic Church)
People of the Book

Similarities to Christianity & Judaism


Trace beginnings of religion to prophet Abraham
Allah = Christian & Jewish god



DIFFERENCE!!!! Jesus = prophet NOT “son of god”
Islamic Qur’an similar teaching to Christian Bible and Jewish
Torah

BUT Qur’an is FINAL book

Muhammad is LAST prophet
Religious toleration: required by Muslim law

Special consideration for Jews and Christians
Islam After
Muhammad’s Death
Chapter 3, Lesson 3
Homework Review Questions
Identify & example:
1) successor 2) devoted 3) reign 4) caliphate 5) treaty 6) exhaust 7) convert 8)
salvation 9) rebels 10) assassinate 11) luxury
Main Idea:
①
What were the accomplishments of the “rightly guided” caliphs?
②
Why did people convert to Islam?
③
Compare and contrast the beliefs of Sunnis and Shiites.
Summarize:
①
3 reasons the Muslim Empire expanded successfully.
②
A Split in Islam.
Critical Thinking:
①
What are the dangers of a leader not naming a successor before his death?
Words to Know
Panic (n.)
Def: a sudden
feeling of great
fear
Disciplined
(adj.)
Ex: He felt a great
panic when he
realized he forgot
Mr. Igor’s HW
Murder (n.)
Ex: He murdered
his grades by not
doing his HW
regularly and
properly
Def: the unlawful
killing of one
person by another
Ex: To be a good
student you
have to be
disciplined
Def: in strict
self-control and
well-trained
New Muslim Leaders Emerge

For 20 years



632 AD: Muhammad dies = no Muslim leader




Muhammad did not name successor = PANIC !!!
Abu Bakr: Muhammad’s father-in-law & trusted friend; respected for his
devotion to Muhammad and Islam
Abu Bakr elected as successor or “caliph” by Muslim community
Effects post-Muhammad
1)
2)
3)

Allah spread Islam across Arabian peninsula = Muslim Empire
Muhammad’s message: order, justice, hope of heaven
Some clans abandon Islam
Some refuse to pay taxes
Some declare themselves prophets
Abu Bakr restores order in (two-year reign)


Used military force to reunite Muslim community
Restored central Arabia to Muslim control; started conquest of Northern
lands (modern-day Syria & Iraq)
“Rightly Guided” Caliphs

Used Qur’an & Muhammad’s actions to guide them



2nd elected caliph: Umar (634-644)


Umar, Uthman & Ali
Their reign known as caliphate
Swift, disciplined armies  conquered Syria & lower Egypt, also
some of Persia
3rd and 4th caliphs: Uthman & Ali


Conquer Persia
661: Muslim Empire expanded nearly x4

Conquest & treaty
Reason for Success
1
Energized by faith
a)
b)
c)
2
Weakness of Northern empires
a)
3
Military victory = Allah’s support
Muslim armies disciplined in battle
Leaders highly skilled
Byzantine and Persian empires fighting each other =
exhausted armies
Tolerance
a)
b)
Byzantine, Persians  persecuted people of other religions
Muslims  practiced religious toleration

Qur’an forbids forced conversion
Muslims Rule

Cultural blending
 Many conquered peoples converted to Islam
 Attracted by Islamic message of equality and
salvation
 Economic benefit: Muslims did not have to pay taxes

“People of the book”
 Jews & Christians receive special treatment
 Pay poll tax = no military duties
 Important positions: officials, scholars
A Split in Islam

Group of rebels:






Opposed Uthman, murdered him (656)
Starts civil war: various groups struggle for power
Ali assassinated 661 = end of electing caliph
Umayyads seize power

Set up hereditary dynasty: rulers come from one family, inherit rule

Move capital: Medina  Damascus
Muslims upset

Damascus too far away

Umayyads abandon “simple life”  live in luxury
Effect:


Muslims divided
Confusion about how to choose leaders
Muslim Community Splits
Sunni

Imam = elected caliphs

Called: Sunnis
Sunnah: Muhammad’s example
Imam: ruler
Shi’a

Imam = Muhammad’s
relatives ONLY

Called: Shiites