Rise Of Major Belief Systems Fall of Classic Civilizations
Buddhism Christianity Islam
Why? Devastating plagues Political instability Dissatisfaction with traditional religions
Religions … Emphasized spiritual life Stressed importance of divine powers Emphasized internal devotion Offers hope through afterlife Helped those in need (poor, hungry, oppressed)
Christianity Moved Westward Church Organization Stressed Nature of Truth History in a line: Eternal life at end Intolerant of other beliefs
Buddhism Moved East Stressed Individual Experience Stressed source of human suffering History is a circle Release from the circle Coexist with other beliefs
Similarities Missionary Activity Coincided with Fall of Empires Met with some resistance Grew out of earlier faith traditions
The Spread of Islam
Origins of Islam Why was the Arabian Peninsula both a likely and unlikely place to start a religion???
Geography – desert People – –Bedouins –Tribal –No unity Strategic location UnlikelyLikely Located bwn 3 continents & major waterways
Changes during Late Classical Period Towns and Cities emerge in Arabia * * * *
Role of Arab Merchants
Growth of Arabic language
Materialistic culture emerges Literacy and Education increases
Fall of Rome
Islam as a “Unifier” Distinctly Arabic Ended feuding tribes Source of Authority Equality and a moral code Trade and profit making
Islamic Expansion Why conquest? *Unity gave confidence *Chance for valuable lands/trade First Commanded by Muhammad Followed by the first Caliphs *Drought in Arabia *Seek Converts
Why was it successful? Quick, Agile Army Weak Surrounding Empires Taxing policies insured loyalty and revenue 2 Organized Arab Dynasties: Umayyad and Abbasid
Islam Arab Succession Issues Corruption
Goals Toleration Record Expansion and Conquest, reap rewards Expand trade, solidify Muslim faith Favoritism toward Arabs leads to resentment/revolts Friendly toward Non-Arabs, Intermarriage encouraged,Recruited in Army Capital Political center was Damascus-central location Political center was Baghdad- located along key trade/water routes Political Structure Caliph was a religious leader. Family as advisors Caliph as absolute ruler. Complex bureaucracy led by Vizier Using Islam as a unifier and a military to expand, the Arabs built a strong empire where trade and a general toleration was valued
Umayyad Dynasty Capital Moved to Damascus Initiated second wave of expansion
Consolidated Empire Elaboration of the faith Created the Hadith Slave System Global Network of Trade Abbasids Dynasty Bills of Exchange Credit/Checks Minting coins
Global Network of Trade Facilitated by: Impact: Bills of Exchange Credit/Checks Minting coins New foods (bananas and citrus) and agricultural techniques (irrigation) Crops transplanted (i.e. sugar from SE Asia)
Islamic Merchants West Africa Gold, Salt and Slaves East Africa Ivory and Gold East Asia Silk India/SE Asia Spices
Problems within the Empire 1. Issues of Succession *After the death of Muhammad *Rightful heir? *Arab v. Non-Arab?
Division Emerges Sunnis Forward Majority Anyone can assume role of caliph Shi’a (Shiite) Fundamentalists Minority Claim to be direct descendants to Muhammad-Only they can be caliph
2. Empire grew too big Rebellious governors Ruling a diverse people
RESULTS : By 1000 Abbasids were crumbling Other cultural influences takeover Arabs Persians, Turks, Mongols Islamic Cultural Dynamism End of Arab Dominance
Pick 2 achievements of the Muslim World and connect them to a theme: -Development of Social Systems -Creation and Expansion of 1. Economic Systems -State Building, Expansion and Conflict2. -Human-Environment Interaction -Cultural Interaction
Islamic Contributions Art, Science and Literature Architecture Urbanized Empire Global Network of Trade
Complete the following Analogy What the birth and growth of Islam (Idea) did for the Arabs (people)… _____________________ (Idea) did for the__________________(people) because they both ____________________________________