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The Arabian Peninsula before Muhammad Caravan trading was predominant trade Nomadic tribes (Bedouin) traded with both Byzantine and Sassanid Empires Camel replaced oxen and carts and a new saddle weaponized them The Ka’ba in Mecca was holy site for many religions – Pilgrimages brought lots of $$$

The Ka’ba

Muhammad in Mecca Born in 570 in Mecca an orphan raised by his uncle Married a widow and became a caravan trader “Night of Power and Excellence” was visited by the angel Gabriel and was convinced this was God (Allah) People followed him, Islam (Submission) was created Followers are called Muslim (one who submits) Islam worshiped a single god and took care of the poor Pressure (?) from those in power forced Muhammad and his followers to flee to Medina in 622, Hijra

Formation of the Umma Umma is the term for the community of all Muslims Joined the separate nomadic kinship bonds of community Muhammad waged in war with Mecca and surrounding desert nomads; Mecca surrendered in 630 Muhammad died in 632 Abu Bakr became caliph He ordered written copies of Muhammad’s prophesy collected The Qur’an became sacred text

The Five Pillars of Islam There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger Prayer five times a day (facing Mecca) Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunup to sundown Alms ($$) to the poor Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in lifetime

Fracturing of the Umma Not everyone was happy with Abu Bakr Shi’ites believed that Ali should have been caliph After a series of assassinations Ali became caliph, but was assassinated giving way to Mu’awiya who institutes the Umayyad Caliphate Sunni Muslims support the first three caliphs and then as well as today make up the dominant part of the Islamic faith

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Umayyad Caliphate, Muawiya moved capital from Medina to Damascus, Syria Created hereditary line to become caliph Expanded empire as far as Afghanistan and Spain Created a bureaucracy to govern their vast lands Non-Arab converts to Islam were not really accepted Jews and Christians became “People of the Book” and were allowed to practice their respective religions Disregard for non-Arabs created resentment and eventually led to the overthrow of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate replaced them

Early Abbasid Caliphates, Claimed legitimacy: descendants of Muhammad’s uncle Opened Islam to all on equal basis Moved capital to Baghdad Focused on creating religious law, Shari’a Religious scholars called ulama interpreted the Qur’an and the hadith to determine Islamic law codes. Office of the vizier ran the government, directed by the caliph and a state council Greeks, Iranian, Asian and Africans converted to Islam giving the capital a cosmopolitan feel

Political Fragmentation Controlling such a vast empire became problematic It would take weeks for information to travel to the capital and months to organize military action Islamic principalities sprang up draining money from Baghdad The Mamluks (Turkic slaves) were expensive mercenaries who, at times, would take over Baghdad and control the caliph Fatimid Caliphate controlled North Africa and parts of Arabia Umayyad Caliphate was established (pushed into) in Spain o Unique version of Islam blending the Roman, Germanic, Jewish, Arab, and Berber traditions. o Only took the title Caliph after the Fatimid leader did

Assault from Within and Without Constant invasion meant power was changing hands Politically the empire had multiple rulers during this time: Seljuk Turks, Cursaders, Mamluk, and the Mongols Although politically things were uncertain, the umma experienced a “Golden Age” of Islam The religion and culture spread throughout the southern Mediterranean, Africa, Central Asia, and into Spain

Wrap-up The foundation of Islamic civilization is the Shari’a, which is derived from the Qur’an and hadith Urbanization and religious conversion reinforced each other and primped the expansion of agriculture, trade, science, and technology Women in general enjoyed relatively high status under Islamic law, though urban women tended to live in seclusion Slavery was an accepted and continuous practice Migrations of Iranian scholars centered Islam on the madrasa and contributed to the rise of Sufism