Islam

Arabian Peninsula--between Red Sea & Persian Gulf (Arabian Desert) Bedouins—nomadic herders Tribes—Everyone obeys rules=survival

Blood feuds Mecca —important trading city Kaaba (housed statues of many Arab gods)

Muhammad Born in Mecca 570 AD HONEST caravan leader Married wealthy widow Devoted time to reflecting on life

610—Muhammad had revelations Allah (Arabic word for God) told Muhammad to “Recite!” Warned against idol worship & sin Allah was one true god

Wealthy merchants feared Islam would stop tourism to Kaaba & threaten profit Mecca’s merchants threatened Muslims

622—Muhammad & Muslims fled from Mecca to Yathrib—Hijrah (flight) City’s name changed to Medina 622—beginning of Muslim calendar

624—Medina Compact place loyalty to Islamic community over tribe

630—Muhammad invaded Mecca Muhammad destroyed idols in the Kaaba

Qur’an (Koran) which means “recital” is the Muslim holy book Conversations between Muhammad & angel Gabriel

Qur’an Moral Values: Honor their parents Kindness to neighbors Protect orphans & widows Give generously to the poor Murder, stealing, and lying, and adultery are condemned Gambling, eating pork, & drinking alcohol are NOT ALLOWED The Quran also has rules for divorce & marriage

5 PILLARS OF ISLAM 1.) Faith belief in Allah— 1 true God 2.) Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca—sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, & evening (mosques have minarets, towers, where people made call to prayer)

3.) Fasting Occurs during month of Ramadan— 9th month in the Muslim calendar 4.) Alms giving Charity 5.) Pilgrimage Trip to Mecca Called a hajj

Halal Word means lawful Refers to foods that are OK for Muslims to eat Similar to Jewish “kosher” food Mammals that both chew their cud and have cloven hooves can be kosher. Animals with one characteristic but not the other (the camel, the hyrax and the hare because they have no cloven hooves, and the pig because it does not ruminate) are specifically excluded (Leviticus 11:3–8)

Caliphs=Muhammad’s successors 632: Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s old friend) 1st caliph 634: Umar Added Iraq, Syria, Jerusalem, & Egypt

What is jihad? Struggle for Islam

644: Ali (Muhammad’s son in law & cousin) lost caliph to Umayyad clan Umayyad killed & Ali became caliph CIVIL WAR Ali’s forces vs. Umayyads Ali KILLED & Mu’awiya made caliph starting Umayyad Dynasty

Sunni Majority of world’s Muslims Caliph can be any devout Muslim accepted by the people Shiite (Shi’a) Mostly in Iraq & Iran Caliph should be descendant of Muhammad

Umayyad Dynasty 661 - 750 Carried Islam into India, China, North Africa, & Spain Built Dome of the Rock

Muslims pushed into France Battle of Tours 732 stopped spread of Islam into Western Europe

747—non-Arab Muslims & Shiites overthrew Umayyads

Abbasid Dynasty 750 - 1258 Capital in Baghdad House of Wisdom Library Greek & Indian texts translated into Arabic

1055—Baghdad captured by Seljuk Turks 1100s—Christian soldiers (crusaders) from Europe in Holy War

1258—Mongols invaded Baghdad & ended Abbasid Dynasty Ottoman Turks help Arabs

Family Life Men could have up to 4 wives Wives treated equally Women could only go out to mosque or market

Mathematics Adopted Indian numbers, calling them Arabic numerals Algebra

Astronomy & Geography Astrolabe Outlined map of Asia, Europe, & North Africa

Medicine Al-Razi—diagnosed smallpox & measles Ibn Sina wrote Canon of Medicine medical encyclopedia Optics (study of sight)

Art Arabic script to decorate mosques Geometric designs, leaves, flowers

Literature Arabian Nights “The Thousand and One Nights”