Download AIM: DID THE RISE OF ISLAM PROVIDE IDEAS THAT UNITE

The Spread of Islam 7th to 9th century
1. THE ORIGINS OF ISLAM: The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca in about 570. When
Muhammad was about 40 years old he heard the voice of Gabriel ordering him to “proclaim,” or preach to
all people. After much soul-searching, Muhammad came to believe that the lord who spoke to him through
Gabriel was Allah. Muhammad became convinced that he was indeed the last of the prophets. He taught
that Allah was the one and only God and that all other gods must be abandoned. People who agreed to
this principle of Islam were called Muslims.
2. SPREAD OF ISLAM DURING MUHAMMAD’S LIFETIME: By 613, Muhammad had
begun to preach publicly in Mecca. Many Meccans believed his ideas would lead people to forget the
traditional Arab gods (polytheism). Muhammad decided to leave Mecca, in 622 following a small band of
supporters he settled in the town of Yathrib, over 200 miles to the north of Mecca. This migration became
known as the Hijrah (hih-jee-ruh) He attracted many devoted followers by spreading his teachings. Yathrib
was later renamed Medina, meaning “city of the Prophet.”
When Muhammad Returned to Mecca … In 630, the Prophet and 10,000 of his followers
marched to Mecca. Facing sure defeat, Mecca’s leaders surrendered. The Prophet entered the city in
triumph. When he entered the city, Muhammad went to the Ka’aba and declared, “Truth has come, and
falsehood has vanished.” Then he destroyed the idols in the Ka’aba and had the call to prayer made from
the roof of the Ka’aba.
3. REASONS FOR THE SPREAD OF ISLAM: Islam began in the Arabian
Peninsula in the early 7th century CE. It quickly spread throughout the Middle East
before moving across North Africa, and into Spain and Sicily. The reasons for the
success of Islam, and the expansion of its empire, can be attributed to the strength of the
Arab armies, the use of a common language (Arabic), and fair treatment of conquered
peoples.
Arab armies were able to quickly conquer territory through the use of advanced tactics and the use of
horse and camel cavalry. Islamic rulers were very tolerant of conquered peoples, and welcomed
conversion to the Islamic faith.
DIRECTIONS: After you finish one of the readings begin to fill in the chart below.
 Use the information in the reading above to fill in the column labeled Example
(only put one word in this column ex. Muhammad)
 Use your own words to fill in the column labeled Explain/How (in this section
actually explain how
Essay Task:
Explain how Islam
spread to cover such
an extensive Empire.
Example
Explain/How
SPREAD OF ISLAM 635-750 C.E.
Atlantic Ocean
●Tours
FRANCE
Defeated
Spain 711 C.E.)
Constantinople
Defeated PERSIA
650 C.E.
Mediterranean Sea
Defeated EGYPT 650
C.E.)
Arabian Sea
Land Controlled by Muslims at the death of
Muhammad by 632 C.E.
Land controlled and conquered by Muslims
by the year 750 C.E.
Medina
Mecca
Size of land that was controlled by the
Byzantine Empire before the spread of Islam
1. What two cities were Controlled by Muslims at the death of Muhammad?
_________________
_________________
2. Not including the Byzantine Empire, what four main areas were conquered by
Muslims by the year 750 C.E.?
_________________
_________________
__________________
__________________
*** special note to the map when Islam spread and took over areas that were formerly controlled by the Byzantine Empire, the
Byzantine Empire did not collapse but still controlled a smaller area around Constantinople. Although not related to the spread
of Islam during the 7th to 9th centuries; the Byzantine Empire eventually fell many years later, in 1453 to the Ottoman Empire.
What information seems factual?
For each piece of information, explain why
Document #1:
Document# 2:
Documents #3:
Document #4:
What information seems like opinion?
For each piece of information, explain why
Just as you sort facts and opinions in daily life it is just as important to look for the difference
when reading about history. Historians often include their views about the past; primary sources,
can also mix fact with opinion. Keep in mind that a fact can be proved or disproved, but an
opinion is a personal belief. Knowing the difference between facts and opinions helps you find
accurate information. When you look for facts and opinions read sentence by sentence. A fact
usually tells who, what, when, where, or how much. Next ask how you can check whether each
fact is true, now look for opinions by asking which statements are personal beliefs or value
judgments, look for words that judge or predict. For each opinion ask whether it is supported by
true facts or good reasons.
Distinguishing fact and opinion
1. Look for facts by asking what can be proved true or false.
2. Ask how you could check whether each fact is true.
3. Look for opinions by asking which statements are personal beliefs or value judgments.
Look for words that judge or predict.
4. Ask whether each opinion is supported by true facts or good reasons.
Some Opinion Clues:
Judging: good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, should, must
Predicting: will, shall, probably
Document #1: Chronicle of St. Denis (written by a Christian who was at the Battle of Tours)
“The Muslims planned to go to Tours to destroy the Church of St. Martin, the city, and
the whole country. Then came against them the glorious Prince Charles, at the head of his
whole force. He … fought as fiercely as the hungry wolf falls upon the stag. By the grace
of Our Lord, he wrought a great slaughter upon the enemies of Christian faith, so that--as history bears witness---he slew in that battle 300,000 men, as well as their leader…
And what was the greatest marvel of all, he only lost in that battle 1500 men. The tents
and harness [of the enemy] were taken; and whatever else they possessed became a prey
to him and his followers…… “
Document #2: Abd-er-Rahman, nearing Tours, unexpectedly found Charles’ army.
(written by a Arab who was at the Battle of Tours)
“What frightened him(the leader of the Arabs) most of all was the possibility of losing his army
among the forests and the streams… It was bitterly cold weather, with the Arabs still dressed
for their summer campaigns. The wolf coats of the Franks helped them in the icy cold...the
Franks, who numbered many more well-equipped soldiers... Also, the Franks were fighting
with the river at their back, and could not retreat even if they had wanted to. The Arabs
marching through France had won a large amount of goods, and this too worked in the favor
of the Franks, who were not weighed down with the task of guarding their treasure, nor did
they possess baggage trains of any kind.”
Document #3: This description of the Battle of Tours in 732, from Fifteen Decisive Battles
of the World by Sir Edward Crecy Written in 1851.
The Muslims struck their enemies and laid waste to the country and took captives without
number… everything gave way to their scimitars (swords) … All the nations of the Franks trembled
as that terrible army .. attacked Tours … and the fury and cruelty of the Muslims towards the
inhabitants of the city were like the fury and cruelty of raging tigers.
Document #4: In this excerpt from The Spirit of Islam, by a Muslim writer, Syed Ameer
Ali (London: Chatto and Windus, 1964), the expansion of Islam is defended and that of
Christianity is criticized.
Islam never interfered with the beliefs of any faith, never persecuted…”Islam grabbed the
sword” in self defense; Christianity grabbed it in order to take away freedom of religion.
Wherever Christianity prevailed, no other religion could be followed… The Moslems, on
the other hand, required from others a simple guarantee of peace, tribute in return for
protection, and perfect equality – on condition of the acceptance of Islam….
“Islam doesn’t teach terrorism at all, it’s
all about peace, praying to God, charity,
and kindness. We wouldn’t even think of
taking innocent lives away. In the Quran
it says that whoever takes a life away will
be punished by Allah.”
(Mohamad, 6th grade.)
Arab victory over the invading Chinese armies in 750, Battle at the Talas River
The Battle of Talas (怛羅斯會戰) in 751 AD was a conflict between the Arab Abbasid Caliphate
and the Chinese Tang Dynasty for control of the Syr Darya. On July 751, The Abbasids started a
massive attack against the Chinese on the banks of the Talas river; 200,000 Muslim troops
(according to Chinese estimates) met the combined army of 10,000 Tang Chinese and 20,000
Karluks mercenary. Out of 10,000 Tang troops, only 2000 managed to return from Talas to their
territory in Central Asia.
The defeat was due to the defection of Karluk mercenaries and the retreat of Ferghana allies who
originally supported the Chinese. The Karluks forces, which composed two thirds of the Tang
army, deserted the Chinese coalition and changed to the Muslim side while the battle was
ongoing. With the Karluk troops attacking the Tang army from the rear and the Arab attacking
from the front, the Tang troops were unable to hold their positions. The commander of the Tang
forces, Gao Xianzhi, recognized that defeat was imminent and managed to escape with some of
his Tang regulars with the help of Li Siye. Despite losing the battle, Li did inflict heavy losses on
the pursuing Arab army after being reproached by Duan Xiushi. After the battle, Gao was
prepared to organize another Tang army against the Arabs when the devastating An Shi
Rebellion broke out in 755. When the Tang capital was taken by rebels, all Chinese armies
stationed in Central Asia were ordered back to China proper to crush the rebellion.