THE EXPANSIVE REALM OF ISLAM Chapter 14

Focus Questions: What were the historical origins and central ideas of Islam? How did Islamic ideas in art, architecture, literature, math, science, and technology spread to other civilizations and how did they influence other cultures?

Muhammad and his message Where did Islam emerge? When? Who was Muhammad? What happened to him one day as we went to pray? According to Islam, God sent his angel Gabriel to spread the message of Islam; he appeared to Muhammad (an illiterate merchant); he called himself the "seal of the prophets"--the final prophet of Allah; Attracts followers to Mecca (Arabian Peninsula)

Muhammad’s migration to Medina 613: Conflict in Mecca Muhammad began to preach in Mecca, this offended many polytheistic pagans, the Meccans, so Muhammad was forced to leave The Hijrah: Muhammad’s migration to Medina 630: He and his followers conquered Mecca; The Ka'ba was not destroyed; it became site of pilgrimage in 632;

What is Islam ? Islam is the Arabic word for submission (obedient, humble) “submission to the will of Allah”

Five Pillars of Islam 1 - Faith in one God (There is only one God, Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet) 2 - Daily prayer (after the ritual of washing, they must face the city of Mecca and pray)

3 - Give help to the poor 4 - Fast during the holy month of Ramadan (from sunrise to sunset)

5 - Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in their lives, they should visit the Kaaba, shrine in Holy city of Mecca)

Shari’ah Islamic law, inspired by the Quran – a law code that provides believers with a set of practical laws to regulate their daily lives; believers are forbidden to gamble, eat pork or to drink wine or other intoxicating beverages; guidance on proper behavior in almost every aspect of life; through the shari’ah, Islam became more than a religion, it became a way of life

ISLAM SPREADS How did Islam spread rapidly over a wide area? When Muhammad died in 632, the community faced a crisis. Eventually, the issue of leadership would divide the Muslim world. Arabs spread Islam across parts of 3 continents: Byzantine empire, Spain, and Egypt (eventually will spread to India) Sufis: Islamic mystics; most effective missionaries.

Custom to expand Arab authority; raid in struggle against his enemies – jihad: holy war – “struggle in the way of God” – --a “struggle” -- Against vice; Against ignorance of Islam They were strong fighters b/c the Byzantine and Persian empires were weak from fighting with each other. Many conquered peoples chose to accept Islam; they were attracted by the appeal of the message of Islam ** most important they were united by their belief in Islam

What divisions emerged within Islam? No clear to successor to Muhammad identified; Abu Bakr chosen to lead as Caliph; Led war against villagers who abandoned Islam after death of Muhammad Two divisions: Sunni and Shiite they argued on who was named leader of the Islamic community After 850, it started to decline As time went on, the caliphs began to behave more like hereditary rulers, like those in a monarchy, except that there was NO clear line of succession.

Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 C.E.) Established capital city at Damascus in Syria;would enlarge the Islamic empire dramatically (from N. Africa to Spain, but never flourished in Europe); Arabic becomes official language; gold/silver becomes the standard monetary unit; conquered subjects were “encouraged” to convert to Islam; tax on those who did not convert to Islam

Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 C.E.) Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia; Defeats Umayyad army in 750; Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them Replaces the Umayyad Dynasty in all areas except Spain; Abu al-Abbas, descendant of Muhammad's uncle; Built capital in Baghdad, Iraq – 751; Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces they defeat the Tang Dynasty (China), won control of Silk Road trading posts in central Asia (learn how to make paper money from Chinese POWs) -- Will be replaced by Mongols (later, later)

Economy Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE); High point of Abbasid dynasty; Baghdad center of commerce; Great cultural activity Dar al-Islam Dar al-Islam encompasses silk routes New crops, agricultural experimentation, and urban growth; Trade revived silk roads; Umayyad and Abbasid rulers maintained roads for military and administration Maritime trade; Banks

Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) Muslim Berber conquerors from North Africa take Spain, early 8th c. Allied to Umayyads, refused to recognize Abbasid dynasty Formed own caliphate Tensions, but interrelationship

ISLAMIC GOLDEN AGE (650-1258) **a strong economy helped the spread of Islam Contributions: 1 – art: domes and arches (p.210, Mosque of Córdoba) *** paint people and animals in nonreligious art; no representation of the prophet Muhammad ever adorns a mosque – Forbidden by Quran (warns against any attempt to imitate God by creating pictures of living beings) *** 2 – literature: Quran – most important piece of Arabic literature 3 – translate Greek lit (Aristotle & Ibn Rushd (Averroës); 4 - Algebra – circumference; trigonometry 5 - set up hospital w/emergency rooms

Women and Islam Quran improves status of women Outlawed female infanticide; Brides, not husbands, claim dowries Women were viewed as property – of men (in case of divorce, the husband would keep dowry; Baby girls were seen less valuable than baby boys (led to female infanticide) Yet male dominance preserved; Polygamy permitted Had to be veiled in public Woman’s primary duty: to be loyal to and care for her husband and family