Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes Desert and Town Life Arabian Peninsula is a cross roads of three continents—Africa, Europe, and Asia At its widest points it reaches 1,200 miles Only a tiny strip of fertile land in south Arabia and Oman can support agriculture Rest is desert Crossroads of Trade and Ideas Early 600s trade routes connected Arabia to the Major ocean and land trade routes Ran to Byzantine and Persian empires and also went east to Asia (Silk Road Transported spices and incense from Yemen and other products to the west Also carried ideas

Continued Mecca During holy months, caravans stopped in Mecca, a city in western Arabia Brought religious pilgrims who came to worship at an ancient shrine in the city called Ka’aba Associated this place with the worship of Abraham, a Hebrew prophet and a believer in one God Allah-Arabic word for God

Prophet Muhammad Muhammad: Born into the clan of a powerful Meccan Family Orphaned at the age of 6 Married his business manager Khadijah Revelations Was spoken to by Gabriel Begin to teach that Allah was the one and only God Islam: the religion that meant submission to the will of Allah Muslim: mean one who has submitted-the followers of Mohammad The Hijrah: Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Yathrib Returning to Mecca 630, the Prophet and 10,000 followers marched to the outskirts of Mecca

Beliefs and Practices of Islam The Five Pillars Faith: Person has to testify to the following statement “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” Prayer: Five time a day, Muslims face toward Mecca to pray. They may assemble at a mosque, an Islamic house of worship, or wherever they find themselves Alms: Muhammad taught that all Muslims have a responsibility to support the less fortunate. Muslims meet that social responsibility by giving alms, or money for the poor, through a special religious tax. Fasting: During the Islam holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. A simple meal is ate at the end of the day. Fasting serves to remind Muslims that their spiritual needs are great than their physical Pilgrimage: All Muslims who are physically and financially able perform the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once.

Sources of Authority Muslims memorized and recited the revelations Muhammad received from Gabriel, once he died they suggested that the revelations be collected in a book The book Qur’an-the holy book of the Muslims The Sunna or Muhammad’s example, is the best model for proper living The Shari’a- body of law governing the lives of Muslims

Muhammad’s Successors Spread Muslim community elected Abu-Bakr, loyal friend of Muhammad to be the first caliph, a title that means successor or deputy Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu-Bakr invoked the Jihad-means striving and can refer to the inner struggle against evil Also in the Qur’an and is referred to as a struggle against unbelievers Reasons for Success Spread was Muhammad’s wishes Muslim armies were well disciplined Persecution suffered by the people under the Byzantine and Sassanid rule Treatment of conquered peoples

Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis Uthman is murdered and the power struggle between Ali and Muawaiya occurs Family known as the Umayyad then came to power Moved capital to Damascus away from Mecca Shi’a-the branch of Islam whose members acknowledge Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of Muhammad Sunni-branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad Sufi-A Muslim who seeks to achieve direct contact with God through mystical means Abbasids-A dynasty that ruled much of the Muslim Empire from 750 A.D. to 1258 A.D.

Control Extends and Rival Groups Al-Andalus: Muslim ruled region in what is now Spain Fatimid: formed by Shi’a Muslims who claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatima 2 major sea-trading networks existed Mediterranean Sea Indian Ocean

Muslim Society Rise of Muslim Cities Four Social Classes Role of Women Shari’a allowed a man to have up to 4 wives if he could treat them justly and fulfill the marriage contract (requires a man to provide a wife with suitable clothes and a place to live Muslim Scholarship extends knowledge: House of Wisdom: center of learning established in Baghdad in 800’s Calligraphy: art of beautiful hand writing

Islamic Achievements (Chapter 10) House of Wisdom Chemistry & Medicine Astronomy and Geometry Art & Architecture Literature Philosophy & History Mathematics