Download Unit 2: 600 – 1450 CE

Unit 2:
600 – 1450 CE
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What do you know about
Islam?
5 minutes to discuss
The Rise of Islam
The barren wastelands of the Arabian Peninsula
witnessed the development of a belief system
that has evolved into a political system, a
religions, and an economic system:
Dar al-Islam = House of Islam





Founder = Muhammad 600 CE
Followers = Muslim
Faith = 5 Pillars of Islam
Types = Sunni and Shi’ite
Spread = India, Southeast Asia, and Africa
Muhammad
Born in Mecca (religious and commercial center)
in 570 CE
610 Muhammad has a “revelation” – archangel
Gabriel comes to him and tells him that there is
one god; Allah
Not accepted so he and his followers fled to
Medina




Able to be prophet of new faith in peace
Organized his followers into groups called UMMA
629 they went back to Mecca on a pilgrimage or HAJJ
632 go back to Mecca on another HAJJ
632 Muhammad dies without appointing a successor
The Teachings
Muslim = One who submits
5 Pillars must be followed by all Muslims
Faith – “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad
is his prophet”
2.
Prayer – Must pray 5 times per day facing Mecca
3.
Fasting – cannot eat from dawn until dusk during
the month of Ramadan
4.
Alms – “giving” must pay the ZAKAT for the needy
5.
The Hajj – At least once in a followers life they must
make a pilgrimage to Mecca
COMPILED INTO THE QURAN IN 650 CE AND HAVE
TO FOLLOW THE SHIRIA (MORAL LAW)
1.
Split of Islam
Abu-Bakr was chosen as Muhammad's
successor or CALIPH
Uthman the Umayyad was appointed his
successor then he was assassinated
Ali (son–in-law of Muhammad) was his
successor, but caused controversy because he
was not a blood relative of Muhammad and he
was assassinated in 661


Shi’ite – believed the CALIPH should be a direct
member of Muhammad's family
Sunni – (largest group) thought the CALIPH should
be chosen by the UMMA (Muslim community)
Expansion
Islam spread by military conquest in Asia and
Africa
1 year after Muhammad’s death the Arabian
Peninsula was Islamic
651 Persia conquered and turned Muslim
7th century Syria, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and
Egypt converted
8th century Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, NW India,
Spain and Portugal converted
Early conquerors were concerned with the
extension of power.
Umayyad Caliph
661 the Umayyad Family came to power in the
Islamic World




Emphasized Arabic ethnicity over expansion
Inferior status assigned to Islam
Respect for Jews and Christian as “People of the
Book”
Luxurious living for ruling families
Overthrown by the Abbasid Dynasty in 750
The family was killed except for one member
who escaped to Spain and established the
Caliphate of Cordoba
Al-Andalus
Spain was conquered in
711 by the Berbers of
North Africa
Stopped 200 miles south
of Paris at the Battle of
Tours
The Caliphate of Cordoba
boasted libraries and free
education
Arabic words such as
sofa, algebra, and alcohol
incorporated into Spanish
Muslim architecture
added to Spain
Islam in India and Southeast Asia
12th century Muslims conquered the Indus Valley



Centered government in Delhi
Delhi Sultanate controlled India from 1206 – 1526
Was not popular with Hindu India because of
monotheism
In Southeast Asia spread from commercial
contacts rather than military



8th century Muslim traders reached India
Popular on the islands of Indian Ocean (Sri Lanka)
Buddhism remained predominant
Islam in Africa
Spirit of Jihad (holy war) brought Islam to Africa in 8th
century
10th century Egypt became Islamic
10th century Kingdom of Ghana converted
13th century conversion of Kingdom of Mali
Rulers accepted Islam but common people remained
polytheistic
East African cities of Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Kilwa
became vibrant centers of Islam
Did not find success in the interior of Africa mainly
because African women enjoyed freedoms.
The Mamluk Dynasty
Islamic capitol of
Baghdad was
destroyed by the
Mongols in 1258
The Mamluks made
Egypt the center of
Islam
Ruled during the 14th
and 15th century until
the Ottoman Turks took
over in the 16th century
The Role of Women in Islamic
Society
Early women had more
rights than those in other
monotheistic religions
Men could have 4 wives /
women only 1 husband
Both men and women
were equal before Allah
Later women were
secluded from public life
to be kept out of the gaze
of men
Islam and Slavery
Forbidden to enslave
followers of Islam
Known to free slaves
especially if they
converted
Children born to slave
women were
considered free