Download 2-1 Notes-Rise of Islam

Ch. 2, Sec. 1 – The Rise of Islam
The Arabian Peninsula
• Mostly desert
• Intense heat
• Water found only
at oases, green
areas fed by
underground water
• To survive the
climate, most
Arabs settled in
villages near
oases or wells, or
in mountain valleys
Bedouins
• Bedouins were
and are nomadic
desert herders
who moved from
oasis to oasis
• Lived in tents, ate
dried fruit and nuts
• Drank milk from
animals, used
them rarely for
food
Early Arab Towns, Trade
• Many Arabs lived in
villages, farmed, and
raised animals
• Some villagers, called
merchants, transported
goods from town to town
• Bedouin’s often attacked
merchants, so merchants
formed caravans, large
groups of merchants and
animals, to fend off their
attacks
• By 500 A.C.E., Arabs
handled most trade
between India and the
Mediterranean
Makkah (Mecca)
• By around 500 A.C.E.,
Makkah became the
largest merchant town
along trade routes in
Arabia
• In addition to financial
importance, Makkah had
religious significance
because of the Kaaba, a
low square building
surrounded by statues of
gods and goddesses
• At this time, Arabs
worshipped many gods
but the most important
was Allah, the creator
The Kaaba
• Muslims believe that
the Kaaba was
constructed by
Abraham and his son
Ishmael
• In the eastern
cornerstone of the
Kaaba is, “The Black
Stone,” a stone that
Muslims believe
dates back to Adam
and Eve
Muhammad
• Born in Makkah, 570 A.C.E.
• Orphaned, raised by
grandfather who sent him to
live with Bedouins
• Caravan leader who later
becomes a successful
merchant
• Often retreated to the hills to
pray
• 610 A.C.E., visited by the
Angel Gabriel and told to
preach Islam, or
“submission to the will of
Allah (God)”
Muhammad’s Teachings
• Began to tell people to
destroy false idols, and
worship only Allah
• Taught all people were
created equally, so the
wealthy should share
their goods
• Taught that wealth was
not as important as
leading a good life
• Taught that when the Day
of Judgment arrived, God
would reward good and
punish the bad
Opposition to Muhammad
• Muhammad’s message
appealed to poor
people, with whom he
became popular
• Wealthy merchants and
religious leaders did not
like Muhammad’s
message, beat and
tortured his followers
• 622 A.C.E., Muhammad
and his followers left
Makkah north for
Yathrib
• This journey is known
as the Hijrah
Muhammad builds an Islamic Society
• Muslims mark 622 A.C.E
as the first year of a new
Islamic calendar
• Yathrib renamed
“Madinah” (Medina) which
means, “The city of the
Prophet”
• Muhammad applied all of
the laws he believed God
gave him to all areas of life
in Madinah
• Built an Islamic state – a
government that mixes
political power with Islam
Muhammad reclaims Makkah, dies
• To defend Madinah
from Makkah,
Muhammad built an
army
• Defeated Makkah’s
army at the Battle of
Badr in 624 A.C.E.
• In 630 A.C.E.,
Muhammad retakes
Makkah, destroys
idols in the Kaaba and
rededicates it to Allah
• 632 A.C.E.,
Muhammad dies in
Madinah of fever
Islam’s teachings
• Monotheistic – Christianity, Judaism,
Islam all share same God
• Prophets speak the word of God
• In Islam, Jesus is a great prophet
• Quran is the holy book of Islam. It
provides moral teachings (ex. Murder,
lying, stealing, pork, alcohol, gambling,
all forbidden)
• Five pillars of Islam – acts of worship
that they must carry out