Download Chapter 6 Section 2 -The Arab Empire _ It_s Successor

The Arab Empire &
It’s Successor
CHAPTER 6-2
632-750
Creation of an Empire

After Muhammad's death, their was a leadership gap as to who
should be the man in charge of Islam. Traditionally, it would be
handed down to his son, but Muhammad had only daughters. In a
culture where the man was viewed as superior to women, it was
impossible for one of his daughters to take charge.

After Muhammad passed his followers chose Abu Bakr to be their
leader. Abu Bakr was Muhammad's Father-in-law. He was given the
title of Caliph, which means successor to Muhammad.
Arab Conquest

Islam under the leadership of Abu Bakr began to grow. Abu Bakr
was able to bring together large numbers of Arabs under his
guidance using conversion to Islam as the main tool.

Muslims were aggressive in forcing people to join their religion. The
Quran states that violence is permitted as long as it’s a “struggle in
the way of God”

Following Abu Bakr’s death control of Islam again became an issue.
Disagreement led to the next 2 caliphs after Abu Bakr being
assassinated.
The Umayyad Dynasty

In 661 C.E. Mu’awiyah, a rival to the position of Caliph to Ali. He also
created an official office for the caliph known as the Caliphate.

One of the first things Mu’awiyah did was move the capital of the
empire to Damascus in Syria from Medina in the Arabian Peninsula.

Mu’awiyah was less violent than some other caliphs. He is known for
saying “I never use my sword when my whip will do, nor my whip
when my tongue will do.
The Umayyad Dynasty

Under the Umayyad Dynasty the Islamic empire continued to grow.
It expanded at both ends of the territory,(East & West) converting
thousands to Islam along the way.

New territories acquired during the expansion include Northern
Africa, and then into western Europe. By 725 C.E. all of Spain had
converted to Islam and a capital was established in Cordoba.

Expansion was not an easy venture. Resistance was met along the
way as the came in contact with the Byzantine empire (The old
eastern half of the Roman empire)
Islam Divided

As different people from different ethnic backgrounds converted to
Islam, many of these non-Arabs felt that the Umayyad favored
Arabs over the other ethnic groups.

This division among the ethnic groups led to a revolt led by Ali’s
second son, Hussein. Hussein's forces were defeated, but this revolt
led to Islam breaking into 2 sects, Shia & Sunni.

Shia- Shia Muslims only accept Ali’s descendants to be the true rulers
of Islam, or Caliph.

Sunni – Sunni Muslims believe that the Umayyad’s to be the true
rulers of the Islamic movement even though many of them
disagreed with the way the ran the empire.
The Abbasid Dynasty

In 750, with more & more non-Arabs becoming upset with the
Umayyad’s reign, a movement began led by a descendant of
Muhammad's uncle, Abu al-Abbas.

Al-Abbas’ revolution was successful and his dynasty’s reign would
last for almost 5 centuries.

Under Abbasid rule the capital was again moved, this time to
Baghdad in modern day Iraq. Located between the Tigris &
Euphrates, this allowed for easier trading, which made the empire
wealthier.
Seljuk Turks & the Crusades

After the decline of the Abbasid dynasty a power struggle began as
to who should rule Islam. A war eventually broke out in Baghdad by
2 of Al-Abbas’ descendants. This led to the lack of a strong leader to
led the Islamic empire.

A group of non-Arabs known as Turks gained influence within the
Islamic empire.

The Turks eventually took Baghdad, although they still felt the
Abbasid caliph to be the leader of Islam, they the Turks held all the
political & military authority over Baghdad. They gave their leader
the title of Sultan which means “ holder of power.”
The Crusades

The main rival to Islam was still the Byzantine empire. After the Turks
repeatedly defeated the Byzantines, the Byzantines turned to
Christian Europe for help.

Islamic forces invaded Jerusalem , which was a Christian territory at
the time and defeated the Christian armies there. This continual
fighting led to mistrust between Christians & Muslims for years to
follow.
Mongols

The Mongols were a group of nomadic people from Asia who
gradual took over the entire Asian continent. Seeking to continue
their expansion they now pushed in to Islamic territory.

Mongols were not Muslims and really weren't religious. They
eventually took over Baghdad and ended the Abbasid caliphate in
1258.

Once they took over Baghdad they burned the city to the ground
and ruled over the territory. Eventually many Mongols intermarried &
converted to Islam. They began rebuilding the cities they destroyed