Download WORLD HISTORY Origins and Expansion of Islam 600 CE

WORLD HISTORY
Greer
ORIGINS AND EXPANSION OF ISLAM
APPLICABLE GEORGIA STANDARD(S):
SSWH5 The student will trace the origins and expansion of the Islamic World between 600 CE and 1300
CE.
a. Explain the origins of Islam and the growth of the Islamic Empire.
b. Identify the Muslim trade routes to India, China, Europe, and Africa and assess the economic impact of this
trade.
c. Explain the reasons for the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
d. Identify the contributions of Islamic scholars in medicine (Ibn Sina) and geography (Ibn Battuta).
f. Analyze the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
What is Islam?
 Religion developed on the Arabian Peninsula (modern-day Saudi Arabia)
o Like Christianity, offshoot faith of Judaism
 Name comes from Arabic word salaam
o Same meaning as Hebrew word shalom (peace - used as greeting and parting)
o Both are Semitic languages and very similar
o Literal meaning:
 “True peace can only be attained by total submission to God’s will.”
 Key element here is concept of “surrender”
 Religion named for a “concept,” rather than a person (i.e. Christianity)

People who practice Islam are called “Muslims”
o One who surrenders his/her whole being to the will of the Creator
o All other creatures natural “Muslims,” who cannot help but do God’s will
o Man alone has freedom of choice and can make act of “Islam”
 Total surrender to God’s will
Islam is a Monotheistic Religion
 Not a “heathen” religion
o “Heathen” refers to those who do not worship Judeo-Christian God
 Traditional thoughts by Jews and Muslims:
o Descendants of Abraham’s son Isaac (Yitzak) became history’s Jews
o Descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael became history’s Muslims
“Allah” is Simply Arabic Word for “God”
 Allah had been seen earlier as the “high god” of the pagan/heathen Arabs
 Later seen by Arabs as god of Abraham and Jesus
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Five Pillars of Islam
 Shahada (confession) Basic profession of faith required of all Muslims
o “There is no god by Allah and Mohammad is His prophet.”
 Salaah (prayer) - Five times daily, facing holy city of Mecca
 Siyaam (fasting) - Sunrise to sunset during holy month of Ramadan
 Zakaah (charity) - Muslims must give 2.5% of income to charity
 Hajj (pilgrimage) - Muslims required to travel once in lifetime to Mecca
o Only if they can afford to do so
 Purpose is to visit Ka’aba
 Holdover from pagan Arab tradition
 Ka’aba believed to be site of Abraham’s first shrine to God
MUHAMMAD (570 CE-632 CE)
Founder of Islam
 Born in city of Mecca (on the Arabian Peninsula)
o Area where many trade routes crossed
 Became a religious reformer who condemned his people’s worship of idol
 Not considered divine, as Christ is to Christians
 Tends to be treated as such
 Considered “Seal of the Prophets”
o Last of God’s prophets
o Life should be guide to living for all Muslims
“Night of Power”
 Occurred at age 40
 Visited by and fought with an angel
 Angel Gabriel began dictating verses that would become Koran (Quran) - Islam’s holy book
o Process supposedly continued for next 25 years
 613 CE - Mohammed begins preaching new religion in and around Mecca
622 CE. - Mohammad and Followers Driven From Mecca
 New religion seen as upsetting to existing order in Mecca
 Flight known to Muslims as “Hegira”(Hijrah)
o Mohammad and followers welcomed in Medina (Mahdinah)
o Attracted many new followers and gained political influence
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The Arab Muslims Spread Islam
 750 CE - Islam Had Spread Across Arabian Peninsula
 Conquered non-Muslims offered a choice:
o Convert to Islam
o Pay a reasonable tax
o Die
 Jews and Christians usually just paid the tax
 Mohammed stopped early massacres of Jews and Christians (“People of the Book”)
 Restrictions sometimes placed on property rights and movements of Jews and
Christians
The Muslim Empire
 Extent in 8th Century
o Extended from India to Spain
o Unified by Islam and military might
o Empire ruled by Caliphs
o Empire’s first capital was at Baghdad (capital of modern-day Iraq)
 Large cities of the empire surpassed those of Europe for splendor and cleanliness

Break-up of the Empire (by the 10th century)
o Empire gradually disintegrated over a 200-year period
o Rival chieftains gained control over their own domains
 Empire eventually divided into a number of independent Muslim kingdoms

Muslims’ Loss of Spain
o Spain remained under Muslim rule (and prosperity) for 700+ years
 Continuous guerrilla warfare by Christians
 Reunited under Christian rule in 1492 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
The Turks Create a Muslim Empire
 By 10th century, Turkish tribes of central Asia had adopted Islam
 11th century – Seljuk Turks seized Baghdad and dominated Muslim Middle East
 As power of Seljuk Turks waned, Ottoman Turks achieved Muslim leadership
 14th century – Ottoman Turks conquered part of southwest Europe
 15th century – Muhammad II captured Constantinople and ended Byzantine Empire
 16th & 17th centuries – Muslim armies advanced deep into Europe, but were held back
 17th century – Turkish power began to decline and Turks were driven almost entirely out of Europe
Muslim Contributions to “Civilization”
 While European culture declined during the “Dark Ages,” Muslims developed a flourishing civilization
o Education, mathematics, physical science, medicine, agriculture, industry, navigation
technology, literature, language, architecture, numerous outstanding Arab-Muslim scholars
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Miscellaneous Terms and Concepts
 Jihad - Muslim concept of “holy” war
o Refers to literal and figurative struggle to win converts and battle within human soul to submit
to God’s will
o Some misuse(?) term to justify terrorism

Polygamy - having more than one wife (Muslim men can have as many as four)
o Practice frowned upon (most Muslim men have only one wife)
o Each wife must enjoy equal attention and existing living arrangements must not be disrupted


Hajib and Chador - Veil and dress worn by Arab and Persian women
Not Muslim requirements, but cultural (although enforced by Muslim governments in some countries)
o This type of dress pre-dates Islam by centuries

Sunni Muslims - Majority of world’s Muslims
o Consider themselves to be orthodox Muslims
o Based on early quarrels of who would rightly succeed Mohammed

Shi’a (Shiite) Muslims - Minority Muslims who sought a different line of succession from
Mohammed’s heirs
o Mostly Iranian Muslims today
o Minority in Iraq (persecuted by Saddam Hussein)
CHRISTIAN ZEAL AND THE CRUSADES
1096 CE - Pope Urban II Called for Military Mission to “Holy Land”
 50,000-60,000 volunteers from Europe
 Mission was to take Jerusalem from Muslims
 Impetus had come when Byzantine emperor asked pope for help against Seljuk Turks
Pope’s goals:
 Reunite Christendom (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches)
 Display papal power
o Pope and monarchs saw it as way to rid Europe of contentious nobles who disturbed peace and
fought constantly
Knights’ goals:
 Forgiveness for sins
 Glory in battle
 Plunder and riches
Merchants’ goals:
 Make money selling arms and supplies to Christian armies
 Establish control of profitable Middle East trade routes
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First Crusade Won Jerusalem (temporarily)
 Approx. 15,000 Muslims slaughtered in the streets
 Crusader states established at Edessa, Antioch, Tripoli, and Jerusalem
o 1120s – Muslims striking back
 Later Crusades accomplished little
o 1202 - Constaninople sacked by Crusaders
o By 1200’s, Crusading spirit dwindled
Consequences of Crusades:
 Decline of papal prestige
 Decline in power of European nobles
 Decrease in power of Byzantine Empire
 Increase in religious intolerance
o Christians had behaved very badly
o Muslim distrust and resentment of Christians grew
o Still a problem today (Osama bin Laden/terrorism)
 Increase in trade
 European demand for eastern goods led to exploration
TERMS TO KNOW:
Judaism
Allah
Siyaam
Seal of the Prophets
Caliphs
Seljuk Turks
Hijab/chador
Crusade
shalom/salaam
Five Pillars
Zakaah
Hegira
Baghdad
Ottoman Turks
Sunni
Muslim
Shahada
Hajj
Medina
King Ferdinand
jihad
Shi’a/Shi’ite
Isaac/Ishmael
Salaah
Mecca
People of the Book
Queen Isabella
polygamy
Pope Urban II
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