Rise of Islam

 Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula  Most of the Peninsula is desert which, determined how its inhabitants lived

 The Bedouin people were nomads living in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula

 With little rain and few rivers the Bedouin has developed a special way of life.  Centered around areas that had permanent sources of underground water.  This fertile area is called an oasis.

 The dromedary (one- humped camel) Main source of transportation  The dromedary can: Work for long periods of time without water. This made life easier.

 Bedouins had loose tribal association with other clans  Informal rules posed as a way to govern the social order.  It was the responsibility of the victim to catching and punishing thieves and murderers undefined legal system  Created fierce independence, a resistance to authority, and an ability to withstand hardship

 Two cities played an important role in the development of Islam: Mecca and Medina

 Mecca is a holy city.  Worship centered around the shrine called the Kaaba. Statues of male and female gods and a special black stone believed to be from heaven.

 Inhabitants of Mecca and Medina are: part merchant and part nomad  They would leave the desert for part the year and became traders in the city  Those who remained in the desert had difficulty finding food to feed their families.  They need a new leader Mohammed

 Muhammed (570 to 632) was the prophet a new faith. He was born in Mecca. He was a merchant who crossed the desert with caravans carrying good to distant parts of the Arabian Peninsula.  He learned a lot about Greek culture, Christian ideas and the Hebrew religion. Muhammed Began the Islam Faith

 At the age of 40,Muhammed was chosen to preach a new faith  He taught that there is one God (Allah) and that one person (Muhammed) was his prophet.  Allah = God  Islam teaches: kindness, humility, patience, and charity.  Koran = the holy book (collection of religious ideas) and basis for Islamic law and government. Rules of conduct:  How to treat children  Slaves  Animals

 Religion was slow to gain popularity  Muhammed thought that Mecca would be a good place to spread his ideas.  In Medina, Muhammed began to win converts to his faith  Followers of the Muslim Faith count the year 622 as Year One.  The flight from Mecca to Medina is called the Hegira  Followers of the Muslim Faith count the year 622 as Year One.

 The Jews blow a trumpet and the Christians ring bells.  Summon people to pray each day. Used his slave, Bilal.  Stand on the roof and call the Muslims together.  Call to prayer 5 times a day.  Bilal cries out: “Allah is great. There is no God but Allah. Mohammed is the prophet of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to salvation. Allah is great. There is no God but Allah.”

The Five Pillars of Islam  Muslim creed in Arabic: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is His Prophet.”  It is the duty of every Muslim to pray 5 times daily.  They are required to fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the 9 th month in which Mohammed received his revelations.  Every Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during his or her lifetime.  Every devout Muslim must give charity (alms) to the poor.

 Kaaba= Center of worship in Mecca.  Any Muslim can lead people at prayer. Those who are highly educated in Muslim teachings and laws, called mullahs are treated with great respect and are considered holy.  All worshippers are considered equal. no organized clergy

 Conquests of Islam Muhammed’s forces took the city of Medina and defeated the Bedouin tribes.  By his death in 632 C.E. Conquered a large part of Arabia and had set an example for future jihads. Conquered Arabia, Persia, Egypt, northern Africa, Spain, and Portugal.  In the Muslim faith, the afterlife is determined by Allah.  Kismet your time of death and one’s fate in the afterlife is predetermined.

 After Muhammed, the Muslim world was ruled by Caliphs Total power Could not change religious teaching  The first 4 Caliphs Abu-Bekr, Omar, Othman, Ali  Traditional electing Caliphs ended after Ali

 Umayyad, proclaimed himself caliph and established the Umayyad Caliphate with Damascus as its capital.  Inherited power past from father to son, from 661 to 750 C.E.  Overthrown by Abu al-Abbas.  Under the Abbasid Caliphate, the Islamic Empire reached its peak.  A new capital was established at Baghdad.

 Abbasid Caliphate  His heroic deeds are described in the stories called the Arabian Nights The tales of Aladdin and His Lamp and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.  According to legend, the narrator of these stories had to tell one story a night to the caliph for a 1001 nights or be put to death.