The Early Middle Ages (ca )

The Early Middle Ages How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe?

Islam The Arabian Peninsula –Desert –Home of the Arabs No centralized authority Pastoral nomads Loyal to tribes

Islam Ka’ba Arabian Religion –Animistic, pagan –Mecca Commercial, religious center Ka’ba –Pilgrimage site –Brought money to city

Islam Muhammad ( ) –Involved in Meccan caravan trade –Pious –Night of Power (ca. 610)  Prophet of Islam –Preached, made converts Muhammad visited by Gabriel

Islam Islam on the Rise –Converts  UMMAH –Overall response to Prophet was negative –Flight of Muhammad Invited to Medina Hijrah (622) Gained power base, subdued enemies

Islam The Return to Mecca –Ummah wanted to see city converted –March on Mecca (630) Muhammad, 10,000 men Offer made to city, accepted by religious leaders Muhammad entered city, cleansed Ka’ba March on Mecca

Islam Questions?

Islam The Quran –Muhammad’s revelations –Significant teachings Absolute monotheism Jesus: “apostle” “People of the Book” Judgment  Paradise, Hell

Islam The Five Pillars –“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet” –Prayer –Ramadan –Alms levy –Pilgrimage

Islam Talbiyah –“Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayk. La shareeka laka. Labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-n'imata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak.” –"Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners."

Islam Islamic Conquests ( )

Islam Why the Successful Conquest? –Arabs were fighters! –Exhausted opponents –Toleration of other monotheists No forced conversions Relied on other monotheists’ leaders Non-Muslims not equal to Muslims

Islam The Caliphate –Muhammad died 632 –CALIPHS Prophet’s successors First were early converts, from his inner circle (Rashidun) Office: political, religious

Islam

The Great Civilization –Sophisticated, advanced –Access to classical learning –Books, libraries –Contributed to science and math –MOSQUES

Islam Dome of the Rock ( ) –Tribute to Islam’s triumph in Jerusalem –Erected on sacred site –Domed octagon

Islam Minarets at Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Islam Status of Women –First convert: Khadijah (d. 620) –In the Quran Men superior to women Infanticide banned Polygyny permitted Some inheritance rights Khadijah

Islam Questions?

The Byzantine Empire –Remnants of Eastern Roman Empire –Constantinople survived –Strong army, navy –“GREEK FIRE” Weapon at sea Combustible!

The Byzantine Empire Greek Fire

The Byzantine Empire The Iconoclastic Controversy –Emperor ordered destruction of icons (726) –Controversy: iconoclasts vs. iconodules –Iconoclasm condemned at Nicaea II (787) –Iconoclasm resurged, condemned for good 843 Virgin and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, 6 th or early 7 th cent.

The Byzantine Empire Questions?

The Rise of the West The West during the Early Middle Ages –Italy, British Isles, Spain, Kingdom of the Franks –Traits of West Impoverished, fragmented Roman cities were shadows of antiquity Disintegrated infrastructure –Yet West came to dominate the world!

The Rise of the West Kingdom of the Franks –Dominant in Western Europe –Unified by 700 –Catholic –Ruled by Merovingians

The Rise of the West Battle of Poitiers The Carolingians –CHARLES MARTEL (d. 741) Frankish statesman Halted Muslim advance at Tours (732-33) –Family deposed last Merovingian king –Allied with papacy

The Rise of the West Charlemagne (r ) –Devoutly Christian –Promoted education –His government Ruled “by God’s will” Local rule: counts Missi dominici

The Rise of the West Emperor Charlemagne –Pope in trouble, fled to Charlemagne –Pope returned to Rome with Frankish escort –Charlemagne followed, crowned “augustus” (800) –Emperor Charlemagne and “new” Roman Empire?

The Rise of the West The Empire’s Disintegration –Divided into three –Centralized government vanished –Foreign invasion, fragmentation  collapse (late 9 th cent.)

The Rise of the West Questions?

The Early Middle Ages How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast Islam with Christianity and Judaism? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe? How can we compare and contrast the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe?