Spread of Islam

Rightly Guided Caliphs The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Muhammad’s Successors: Muhammad had not named successor No clear candidate Abu Bakr, close companion, father-in-law, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor”, political & religious leader of Muslim community, but not a prophet, area governed, caliphate

Rightly Guided Caliphs The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Priorities: Abu Bakr focused on reunifying Bedouin tribes Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control Reunified Arabia, jihad directed towards north

Rightly Guided Caliphs The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Expansion of territory: Abu Bakr’s, successor Omar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly 637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq 642 victory over Persian Empire complete

Rightly Guided Caliphs The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Reasons for expansion of territory: Prolonged drought on Arabian peninsula Desire of leaders to channel energies of new converts Meccan ruling elites desire to extend trade routes, control surplus producing areas Desert fighting style

Rightly Guided Caliphs

Rightly Guided Caliphs Expansion: After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west Byzantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem 639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule

Rightly Guided Caliphs Empire: Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire Conquests continued under later caliphs 661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East

Rightly Guided Caliphs

Rightly Guided Caliphs Umar ibn Elkhattab: spread Islam to Syria, Egypt, and Persia redesigned government paid soldiers, held a census, made taxes more fair, built roads and canals, aided poor assassinated

Rightly Guided Caliphs Internal Conflict and Division: Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali 644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad

Rightly Guided Caliphs Internal Conflict and Division: Uthman: Muhammad's son-in-law; wealthy merchant Member of Umayyad clan First years of rule were peaceful, but later had financial problems Ordered the compilation of a definitive Qur'an Accused of nepotism Murdered by Egyptian rebels

Rightly Guided Caliphs Ali’s Troubles: Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular Uthman killed by rebels Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control

Rightly Guided Caliphs Sunnis and Shias: Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph, Mu’awiya Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet” Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads Became known as the Shia, “party of Ali”

Rightly Guided Caliphs The Shia and Imams: Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam Imam means “leader” For the Shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.

Rightly Guided Caliphs Conflict: Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shia after deaths of Mu’awiya, Ali– 14 Umayyad caliphs Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq

Rightly Guided Caliphs Further Division: Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shia has remained bitter Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals

Rightly Guided Caliphs Basic Differences Between Muslims: Sunni Beliefs: Early Caliphs First four caliphs were rightful rulers Muslim ruler Only a descendant of Muhammad and Ali may be imam, or ruler Sources of Qur’an, Sunna and teaching of imams Islam

Rightly Guided Caliphs Basic Differences Between Muslims: Shia Beliefs: Early Caliphs Only Ali, Muhammad’s son in law, was legitimate Muslim ruler Any Muslim who follows Muhammad’s example can be ruler Sources of Qur’an and Sunna of Muhammad Islam

Umayyad Dynasty Ruled from A.D. 680 to 750 Caliphal capital moved to Damascus, in prosperous province of Syria 14 caliphs succeeded Mu'awiya

Umayyad Dynasty Continued Expansion: Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn Achievements: Established Arabic as official language Made coinage uniform throughout empire Began first great work of Islamic architecture, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Umayyad Dynasty Administrative Reforms: -Caliph appointed governors to rule far-flung provinces -Governors ruled from strong garrison towns -Spoils from victories helped finance Umayyad government

Umayyad Dynasty Military conquests: Armies conquered territory to borders of China, Indus River Valley, to east Took northern Africa, most of Spain, to west Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however

Umayyad Dynasty Ruling the Empire: Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition

Umayyad Dynasty Ruling the Empire: Instituted a three-level tax system: Muslims: paid zakat 2) Muslim converts, considered mawali, paid higher tax than Muslims 3) Non-Muslims paid highest tax, jizya (security tax)

Umayyad Dynasty End of Umayyad Dynasty: Displeasure with Umayyads widespread Shia continued opposition Also unrest among conquered people, some Arab tribes Many devout Muslims opposed extravagant lifestyles of Umayyad rulers Persians resented secondary status in Umayyad empire Umayyads weakened by discontent, time ripe for rebellion

Umayyad Dynasty Rebellion: Abbasids, led by descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, united many Umayyad opponents by appearing to support their causes Abbasids wiped out Umayyads in series of battles, late 740s Caliphate entered Abbasid dynasty

Abbasid Dynasty Baghdad Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq Persian Influence Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world Abbasids adopted Persian style of government

Abbasid Dynasty Government Rulers cut off from people Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state

Abbasid Dynasty Change in Islam Nature of Islam changed Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures

Abbasid Dynasty Importance of Trade Islam spread through trade Muslim traders journeyed from end to end of caliphate, exchanging goods and information Exchange brought Islam to West Africa, Southeast Asia Trade helped fund cultural achievement

Abbasid Dynasty Most prominent Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, helped bring culture to great heights, 786 to 809 Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences

Abbasid Dynasty End of Unity As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate.

Abbasid Dynasty Challenges from Europe European Christians weakened Muslim rule Christian armies began to drive Muslims out of Spain, 1000s European Christians began Crusades Wanted to make Holy Land Christian, won at first Muslims eventually retook Jerusalem

Abbasid Dynasty Problems from Egypt 969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea Disrupted Abbasid trade Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids

Abbasid Dynasty Problems from Egypt 969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea Disrupted Abbasid trade Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids

Abbasid Dynasty Seljuk Turks and others: Seljuk Turks Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks 1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph

Abbasid Dynasty War Against Byzantine Empire Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert Seljuks would go on to create own empire

Abbasid Dynasty Mamlukes and Mongols 1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria 1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia

Abbasid Dynasty