Download World History Chapter 6

World History Chapter 6
The World of Islam
Islam: the beginnings
• Started in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula
• Started by the prophet Muhammad in Mecca
• He claimed that the Angel Gabriel spoke to him while he
was meditating on wickedness in a cave in the desert
• Had to leave Mecca, as he and his followers were
persecuted by the wealthy, corrupt Meccans.
• He moves to Medina, & the # of his followers increase
• In 630 he returns with a vast army and conquers Mecca
• He calls the Kaaba a sacred shrine (see next page)
• He dies without an heir in 632 A.D.
In the city of Mecca there is a great stone building called the Kaaba.
Mohammad called this building sacred as it was associated with the founder of
Mecca: Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Kaaba in Mecca is the most holy
site in Islam. It is the black building below.
The Teachings of Mohammad
• Islam or the religion of the prophet Mohammad
is Monotheistic, and shares roots (including
prophets such as Moses and Jesus) with
Judaism and Christianity.
• Muslims belief that to achieve life after death
(heaven), that they must subject themselves to
the will of Allah (life by his rules)
• Muslims believe that Mohammad was human!
• There are 5 pillars or most important laws
Belief:
Shahadata
yn
Prayer:
Salaah
Charity:
Zakaah
Fasting:
Siyaam
Pilgrimage:
Hajj
Believe that is no
god but God, and
Muhammad is his
messenger
Perform the
correct prayers 5
times per day
Give part of you
wealth to the
poor and needy
Consuming no
food nor drink
during daylight
during the holy
month of
Ramadan
Make a
pilgrimage to
Mecca, at least
once in your
lifetime if you
are able
A great Mosque (Islamic temple, in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia) Note: non-Muslims are not allowed there.
Sucession
• After the death of Muhammad, his fatherin-law Abu Bakr became Caliph, or
leader.
• Bakr expanded the empire, but when he
died, there were struggles.
• General Muawiya became caliph and
made it hereditary, starting the Umayyad
dynasty. It lasted until 750.
• He moved the capital to Damascus, Syria
Abu Bakr:
• One revolt during the Umayyad dynasty
was very important. A distant relative of
Mohammad’s through marriage, known as
Ali, lead a hopeless revolt. Although he
died, the conflict split the Muslim word with
Shiites only accepting descendents of Ali
as the rulers of Islam, and the Sunni who
accepted the Umayyads.
The Abbasids were the next dynasty. They moved the capital to the
Tigris river, and built the city of Baghdad. There was much cultural
growth in this period: math, poetry, astronomy, law.
After the Abbasids
• The Seljuk Turks conquered Baghdad, but
only ruled militarily; they left the religious
leaders in place
• After the Turks, the Mongols conquered
the empire and destroyed the beautiful
mosques in Baghdad