The Rise and Spread of Islam

Rise of Islam After Muhammad’s monotheistic revelations, Islam (submission) spread through Medina and Mecca. Islam provided answers to many of Arabia’s problems. Islam was influenced by neighboring Jews, Zoroastians, and Christians but was uniquely Arab.

Problems Islam addressed Poverty – with Zakat Warfare – by unifying Arabia Inequality – since all believers are equal Literacy – with Arabic Vulnerability to outside attack – by unifying Lack of legal code – providing Sharia Women’s rights – guaranteeing certain rights

The Caliphate Once united under one ruler (the Caliph), the Arabs focused on conquest. The death of Muhammad brought conflict between Muslims over leadership (sunni vs. shia) The Umayyad clan took control of the Caliphate During the Umayyad rule Islam expanded rapidly

The Abbasid Caliphate After the failure of the Umayyad Caliphate Abbas established the Abbasid Caliphate Ultimately the Abbasids became weak & corrupt; the Caliphate fell apart The spread of Islam continued, and the Abbasid period brought cultural, intellectual, and economic advances

Islam and Trade Arab traders and Sufis spread Islam along trade routes Sharia became new business law Arabs used the camel and dhow to expand and intensify trade Establishment of caravanserai

The Rise of Ghana Trade routes between Saharan & Sub-Saharan: Gold for Salt Ghana taxed trade Two major cities: Arab town of traders center of government Influence of Islam limited

Mali Est. by SUNDIATA Leaders and the elite converted to Islam, but: Syncretic version: kept local religion too Used Islam to establish royal cult Spread Islamic architecture, law, learning Agricultural economy but also taxed trade Most famous Musa was Mansa: went on Hajj

Mansa Musa’s Hajj Took 8,000 people with him across the Sahara So much gold = devalued gold in Egypt On return brought architects and religious experts back Built mosques along the route Funded madrasas Timbuktu as center of learning

DjinguereBer Mosque Timbuktu

Changes to Mali after MM’s Hajj New mosques built Madrasas opened Orthodox movement Established safety within region for trade

Swahili Coast Spread of Islam with trade City-states/kingdoms (not unified) Arabs middlemen in trading Mixed language – Swahili – emerged Islamic architecture, customs, Arabic script, etc. spread Most common people did not convert