Download Mid-East Geography

Mid-East Geography and Islam
The crossroads of 3 continents
Trade
Invasion
Cultural diffusion
Resources of the Middle East
Textiles
Metals
Water
Oil
Natural Gas
The Arabs
Arabs are Semitic-speaking nomadic peoples living
on the Arabian Peninsula
Sheikhs are Arabs leaders elected by the village
council of elders
Worked as farmers and sheep herders
Polytheistic beliefs with Allah being the supreme god
Arabian Peninsula = more important when trade
routes shifted to area due to dangers in Egypt and
Mesopotamia which allowed the area to prosper!
Important Cities
Mecca
2. Medina
3. Jerusalem: home
of sites holy to
Jews, Christians,
and Muslims
1.
Personal Information
Born in Mecca, 570 CE
Father died before birth and his
mother died at age 6
Raised by grandfather and then uncle
Worked as a shepherd and trader
Personal Information
Called al-Amin meaning “the
trustworthy man”
Became a caravan trader with the
Bedouins (leading group)
Married widow Khadija at age 25
(she had employed him)
The Prophecy
Muhammad is frustrated by lack of charity
and false worship in his community so he
goes to meditate…
610 CE –the angel Gabriel appeared to
Muhammad and proclaimed him to be the
messenger of god while meditating
Muhammad began to preach to a small
group including his wife
Muhammad
Muhammad preached Islam
(“peace through surrender to God”)
to his followers
Monotheistic faith
Conflicted with priests and wealthy
traders in Mecca
The Hijra
622 CE - Muhammad was forced to
leave Mecca (life threatened)
Welcomed in Medina
630 CE - returns to Mecca with army
Destroys icons in the Kaaba except
the Black Stone
Muhammad
Mecca becomes spiritual center
of Islam
Muhammad died in 632 CE
Succeeded as Islamic leader by
his father in law Abu Bakr
The Koran or Qu’ran
Holy book of Islam
Written down after
Mohammad’s death
Means “recite”
The Five Pillars
1. Shahada
Faith: “There is no god but Allah and
Muhammad is his prophet”
2. Salaat
Prayer: said five times each
day, facing Mecca, in Arabic
3. Zakat
Charity: Give to those in need and in
turn receive purity and growth
Creates an economic balance in
Islamic society – in theory no overly
poor and/or starving population
4. Ramadan
Fasting: no food, drink, or sexual
relations during this month from
sun up to sundown
It brings self-purification and
discipline to the individual
5. Haj
A pilgrimage to Mecca that every
Muslim should attempt once in
his or her lifetime (as long as
he/she is physically and
financially able to make the trip)
Islam..
Religion is a way of life
Role of women
Islamic Law = shari’ah
Islamic Worship