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The First Global Civilization:
The Rise and Spread of Islam
Introduction
Islam (literally means “submission, the self-surrender of the
believer to the will of the one, true God, Allah”)
No single civilization had bound together large portions of the
ancient world before
Arabia had been a nomadic backwater in the Middle East but
within decades the Muslims had conquered a huge empire.
Islamic civilization was spread by merchants, wandering mystics,
and warriors - provided key links and channels for the exchange
among the older classical civilizations
Clan Identity, Clan Rivalries, and
the Cycle of Vengeance
Bedouin herders lived in kin-related clan groups and clans were
clustered into larger tribal groupings. Shaykhs are the leaders of
the tribes or clans.
Clan cohesion reinforced by fierce interclan rivalries and
struggles to control vital pasturelands and watering places.
Battles often ensued, which resulted in weak power status in
relation to neighboring peoples and empires.
Towns and Long-Distance Trade
Farmers and town dwellers carved out small communities in the
western and southern parts of the peninsula during the classical
era. Some cities arose as links in the transcontinental trading
system.
Mecca was founded by the Umayyad clan of the Quraysh
bedouin tribe.
Its status enhanced because it was the site of the Ka’ba, one of
the most revered religious shrines in pre-Islamic Arabia.
Yathrib (later called Medina)- established in an Oasis and part of
the trading system. However, it was not dominated by one clan
like Mecca but by two Bedouin and three Jewish clans.
Marriage and Family in Pre-Islamic
Arabia
Women probably enjoyed greater freedom and
higher status than those in neighboring
civilizations. They played key economic roles.
Men had to pay a bride-price. Their advice was
highly regarded. BUT they were not equal to
men. Their status depended on the custom of
the individual clans and tribes
The Life of Muhammad and the
Genesis of Islam
Born around 570 CE into prominent clan of the Quraysh tribe, the Banu
Hashim
Father died and was raised by father’s relatives. Went with uncle Abu Talib
made first caravan journey to Syria, where he met Christians and Jews (this
influenced his teachings)
Became a merchant in Mecca. In his travels trading became aware of clan
rivalries and the discrepancy between the rich and the poor. Dissatisfied of a
life of material gain.
Spread of monotheistic faiths at the time. Many prophets in Arabia.
Goes to meditate and in ca. 610 he received the first of many revelations (his
followers believe that the angel Gabriel transmitted them to him). The
revelations were later written in the Qur’an.
At first Muhammed had a small following but slowly as his following grew, the
Umayyad notables who dominated Meccan life saw him as a threat to their
own wealth and power. New faith threatened to supplant the gods of the Ka’ba
Muhammed Returns to Mecca
622 goes to Medina, where there is civil strife and
Muhammed is called in to help mediate, where he was
successful and gained new followers
Umayyad’s angrier at Muhammed’s success because
Medina begins to rival Mecca
This leads to battles, which end with a treaty in 628,
whereby the Muslims could visit the shrine at Ka’ba in
Mecca during the season of truce
629 goes home with about 10,000 followers and
gradually wins over the Umayyads
Arabs and Islam
Islam initially only adopted by Arab town dwellers and Bedouins
Islam offered the possibility of an end to the vendettas and feuds that had
divided the people of Arabia
Umma- community of the faithful
Islam offered an ethical system that helped heal the social rifts in Arabian
society
o Stressed the dignity of all people
o Soon incorporated into a body of law
Universal elements including monotheism, highly developed legal codes,
egalitarianism, and strong sense of community
5 pillars provided basis for religious unity: faith, prayer, fasting, zakat, hajj
Arab Empire of the Umayyads
632 Muhammad died suddenly and left no designated successor
By 633 Muslim military leaders began to mount expeditions
beyond the peninsula
Combination of their skill and neighbor’s weaknesses led to
conquering success
Arab world not Islamic yet
Increasing tension over who would be the Caliph- the political
and religious successor to Muhammad
o Ali- cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad
o Abu Bakr (632-634) early followers and closest friend of
Muhammad
Ridda wars- brought the return of Arabian tribes to Islamic folds
Motives for Arab Conquest
Islam provided unity to Arab warriors
Bedouin warriors drawn to campaigns of
expansion by a promise of a share in the booty
No interest in conversion of conquered people
Weaknesses of Adversary
Empires
Sasanian Empire of Persia vulnerable and Muslim
victories led to rapid collapse of the empire
Byzantines harder to defeat but two reasons they could:
o Defection of Arabs on their own frontiers
o Support of Muslim invaders from Christian sects in
Syria and Egypt who didn’t like Byzantine rule
By mid- 640s desert Bedouins putting together fleets
that could challenge the Byzantine command of the
Mediterranean
Sunni-Shi’a split
By 656 growing tensions within the community create open
violence
Ali ready to defeat Umayyad forces in 657 but accepted a
mediation, which would prove fatal
Umayyads regroup and added Egypt back in
660 Mu’awiya (new leader for the Umayyads) proclaimed the
caliph directly challenging Ali’s position
1 year later Ali is assassinated
Sunnis- backed the Umayyads, Shi’a- Ali’s supporters
When Ali’s 2nd son, Husayn, was killed in Karbala in 680 Shi’a
resistance mounted
Over time there are differences in belief, ritual and law
Umayyad Imperium
Last ½ of the 7th century renewed conquests
By early 700s ruled an empire that extended from Spain
to Central Asia
Political center shifted to Damascus, Syria because that
was the place of Uthman’s murder
Built solid bureaucracy
Arab conquest state by nature
Kept Muslim warrior elite in garrison town separated
from local population
Converts
Attempts to separate the Muslims and nonMuslims couldn’t succeed
Mawali- Muslim converts
Number of conversions low because there was
no social/economic benefit to converting
Most people were dhimmi- people of the book
Family and Gender
Women played great role in recording history,
active role in politics, great respect for women
Marriage encouraged
Decline and Fall
Early 8th century- Umayyads had alienated those who were
Muslim in their territory
By mid-8th century more than 50,000 warriors had married local
women and came to resent leadership from Damascus
By 747 a group of warriors, backed by the Abbasid party (lead by
Abu al-Abbas) challenged Umayyads
750 Persia and Iraq fell
Battle on River Zab- opened the way for conquest of Syria and
the capture of Umayyad capital