Section 2: Building a Muslim Empire

Early Challenges to Islam Muslims faced a real problem when Muhammad died because he had no one who took his place Abu Bakr who was Muhammad’s father in law stepped in first to be the first successor

Arabs Unite Under Islam Abu Bakr faced immediate crisis because some people refused to obey him and so their loyalty to Islam withdrew So what did Abu Bakr do? He went to WAR! He said if you won’t join me then you are against me. Abu Bakr after several battles with wavering tribes, Abu Bakr succeeded in reuniting the Muslims, based on their allegiance to Islam.

Early Victories Under the first 4 caliphs, the Arab Muslims marched from victory to victory against 2 great empires The Byzantines and the Persians fought for several years over some dirt in the Middle East Once the Arab Muslims united they surprised their enemies by conquering great portions of the Byzantine empire and defeating the Persians

Divisions Emerge with Islam When Muhammad died, Muslims disagreed about who should be chose to be the leader of the community So, they split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims To this day Sunni and Shiite Muslims are still at odds

Sunnis and Shiites One group of Muslims felt that Muhammad had made his son-in-law Ali, to be the successor. Those people were called the Shiites. (Followers of Ali) Shiites believed that the true successor to Muhammad are the descendants of Ali and Muhammad’s daughter. These people are called Imams (divinely inspired religious leaders) who have to interpret the Quran

Review When Muhammad died what was the biggest challenge facing Islam after his death?

Answer He didn’t have a son. He didn’t name a successor to lead the Muslim people. People were confused who would lead them.

Question 2 What is a caliph?

Answer Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad. 

What is the most important symbol in the Kaaba? Question What is the most important symbol in the Kaaba?

Answer sacred black stone, a meteorite that Muslims believe was placed by Abraham 

Continued Another group called the Sunnis felt that any good Muslim could lead the community, since there could be no prophet after Muhammad died. The Sunni’s split and fought the Shiites. Many Muslims came to an understanding that the successor to Muhammad should be a male Muslim from Muhammad’s tribe. This member is called a caliph (political leader of the religious community) The majority of today’s Muslims are called Sunnis

What are the Similarities? Members of both branches believe in the same God. Both look to the Quran for guidance Both follow the 5 Pillars of Islam

Differences Differ in religious practices, law and daily life Today this still is a HUGE ISSUE among the Sunni and Shiite population For example: When Sunni rulers held power, they often favored other Sunnis and gave little to no help to the Shiites and vice versa.

Sufis Now there is a group that divided from the Sunni and the Shiite population and they are called the Sufis Muslim mystics who sought communion with God through meditation, fasting and other rituals Some believe they have magical powers

Umayyad Caliphs Build an Empire After the death of Ali, this powerful Meccan clan set up the Umayyad caliphate. Which basically it was a dynasty of Sunni caliphs that ruled the Muslim empire until 750. They were really powerful and really helped spread Islam and Muslim civilization to the West (Spain)

Spain was Getting Beasted The Umayyad empire expanded rapidly Muslims ruled parts of Spain for centuries after defeating Spain. Spain basically lost every battle.

Why were the Muslims So Good? One factor was the weakness of the Byzantine and Persian Empires They basically fought each other for so long and for so many years that they were just tired of fighting Many people also welcomed the Muslims because they were tired of being ruled by the Persians and Byzantine Empire. (They were really mean) Another reason, was because the Muslims were cold blood killers in battle. The Muslims were efficient and bold.

Facts About Camels Did You Know! Camels can drink up to seven liters of water in a day. Speed: 40 mph maximum (In Short Bursts, Running) Height: 6.1 ft. (Adult, At Shoulder)

Treatment of Conquered People The advancing Arabs brought many people under their rule. They imposed certain restrictions and a special tax on Non-Muslims. But allowed Christians and Jews to practice their own faiths In time many non-Muslims converted to Islam. (Mainly to gain political or economic advantages) But others were also drawn to Islam’s message

Decline of the Umayyad Caliphate But they faced many problems! Arabs had to adapt from living in the desert to now living in a city and ruling a large population They Umayyads were making a lot of money from their conquests. There was division between the rich people and the poor people in the empire. The caliphs were taking advantage of the money supply and living like Kings. Many people thought they were being hypocritical. Also people were tired of being told to convert to Islam

Rise of the Abbasids People who were upset found a new leader and his name was Abu al-Abbas (Muhammad’s Uncle) He gained a lot of support and captured Damascus in 750 Once he captured the city he killed the family members of Umayyad family. Abu al-Abbas founded the Abbasid dynasty which lasted until 1258 (ruled for about 400 years)

Changes Under the Abbasids Tired to create an empire based on equality They stopped going to war They gained a lot of wealth and power and Muslim civilization flourished They didn’t persecute non-Muslims. They encouraged conversion but didn’t punish you for not converting They focused on education and government They also moved their capital from Damascus to Baghdad

Baghdad was a Happening Place to Be Baghdad brought Poets, scholars, philosophers and entertainers from all over the Muslim word It was a very wealthy city and it was beautiful Merchants sold goods from Africa, Asia and Europe there.

The Muslim Empire Declines Abbasids never ruled Spain Their control of the rest of the Muslim empire began to break around 850. Why did this happen? In Egypt and elsewhere small dynasties ruled states that used to be a part of the Abbasid empire Caliphs power faded over time and that meant there was a new wave of Shiite rulers. Also between 900 and 1400 there were a series of invasions that led to more chaos

Seljuk Turks Take Control In the 900s , Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East from Central Asia and they decided they wanted to pick a fight with the Abbasids. The Abbasids lost. The Seljuk Turks took over Baghdad and then prevented Christians from traveling to Jerusalem and that led to the First Crusade (Pope Urban 1095)

Here come the Mongols The Mongols then really make a mess of things. Genghis Khan led the Mongols out of Central Asia and across southwest Asia The Mongols really liked to fight and they were good at it. In 1258, Genghis Khan’s little grandson burned and looted Baghdad, killing the last Abbasid caliph By that time the Muslim Empire was in ruins