The Early Middle Ages (ca. 600-900)
The Early Middle Ages 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?
Islam The Arabian Peninsula Desert Home of the Arabs No centralized authority Pastoral nomads Loyal to tribes
Islam Arabian Religion Animistic, pagan Mecca Commercial, religious center Ka’ba Ka’ba
Islam Muhammad (570-632) Involved in Meccan caravan trade Pious Night of Power (ca. 610) Prophet of Islam 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 Islamic Conquests (622-733)
Islam Why the Successful Conquest? Arabs were fighters! Exhausted opponents Tolerated, relied on service of other monotheists
Islam The Caliphate Muhammad died 632 CALIPHS Prophet’s successors First were early converts, from his inner circle (Rashidun) Office: political, religious
Islam
Islam The Great Civilization Sophisticated, advanced Access to classical learning Books, libraries Contributed to science and math MOSQUES
Islam Dome of the Rock (687-692) Tribute to Islam’s triumph in Jerusalem Erected on sacred site Domed octagon
Islam
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 The Byzantine Empire Remnants of Eastern Roman Empire Constantinople survived Strong army, navy “GREEK FIRE”
The Byzantine Empire Greek Fire
Virgin and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, The Byzantine Empire The Iconoclastic Controversy Emperor ordered destruction of icons (726) Iconoclasts vs. iconodules Iconoclasm condemned at Nicaea II (787) Iconoclasm resurged, condemned for good 843 Virgin and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, 6th or early 7th 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 The Carolingians CHARLES MARTEL (d. 741) Frankish statesman Halted Muslim advance at Tours (732-33) Family deposed last Merovingian king Allied with papacy Battle of Poitiers
The Rise of the West Charlemagne (r. 768-814) 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 9th 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 the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and western Europe?