The Rise and Spread of Islam

Why Important??? Islam spread quickly to become one of the world’s most popular religions Islam spread quickly to become one of the world’s most popular religions –Remains so to this day Muslim merchants played a crucial role in trade and cultural diffusion Muslim merchants played a crucial role in trade and cultural diffusion

Geography Origins: Arabian Peninsula Origins: Arabian Peninsula Mostly desert Mostly desert Cities on coasts or near an oasis, thrived on trade Cities on coasts or near an oasis, thrived on trade –Mecca and Medina most important Bedouin tribes controlled caravan routes between cities Bedouin tribes controlled caravan routes between cities –Nomadic, clans based on kinship ws/942/ JPG

Pre-Islamic Arabia Polytheistic religion, animistic Polytheistic religion, animistic –Some Jewish and Christian influence Strong familial ties Strong familial ties Polygamy Polygamy –Some allowed women multiple husbands (polyandry) Women enjoyed more freedom than those among neighboring cultures (Byzantine Empire and Persians) Women enjoyed more freedom than those among neighboring cultures (Byzantine Empire and Persians) –Many Bedouin tribes were matrilineal –Women not secluded or veiled Poetry main form of artistic expression Poetry main form of artistic expression –No written language among Bedouin tribes

Rise of Islam By 500’s, Arabia was fragmented By 500’s, Arabia was fragmented –Rivalry among Bedouin –Christianity and Judaism increased in influence  Religious disunity Prophets began to call for unity among the Arabs Prophets began to call for unity among the Arabs –Believed a common religion was needed

Muhammad Born around 570 Born around 570 –Grew up with father’s relatives Educated to be a merchant Educated to be a merchant –Moved to Mecca as an adolescent  Heavily influenced by monotheistic religion (Judaism and Christianity) 610: received revelation from Allah 610: received revelation from Allah –Believed his revelation was the final word of god Foundations of new religion: Islam Foundations of new religion: Islam –Beliefs and teachings recorded in the Qur’an (Koran)

Muhammad Teachings unpopular in Mecca at first Teachings unpopular in Mecca at first –Fled to Medina  became skilled politician and spiritual leader –Islamic community became known as umma Muhammad’s teaching quickly spread Muhammad’s teaching quickly spread –Unified the people of Arabia

Teaching of Muhammad Tenets of Islam Muslim: follower of Islam Muslim: follower of Islam 5 Pillars of Islam 5 Pillars of Islam –Acceptance of Allah as one true god and Muhammad as his prophet –Prayer 5 times daily in direction of Mecca –Fasting during day-light hours of Ramadan –Charity for the less fortunate –Hajj- pilgrimage to Holy Land

Beliefs of Islam Islam: Islam: –Is monotheistic –promotes equality of all believers in the eyes of God –Encourages charity for the poor –Belief in judgment in the afterlife (paradise or hell) Islam was an appealing religion that spread quickly Islam was an appealing religion that spread quickly

Caliphate 632: death of Muhammad 632: death of Muhammad –Uncertainty about leadership in Muslim community –Some renounced faith due to lack of leadership Caliph: political and religious successor of Muhammad Caliph: political and religious successor of Muhammad –Some wanted Ali (Muhammad’s first cousin) to take over –Others felt Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s father-in-law) would be better

Umayyad Caliphate Abu Bakr of the Umayyad clan became caliph (from ) Abu Bakr of the Umayyad clan became caliph (from ) –Began to standardize the Islamic faith, oversee compilation of the Qur’an (Koran), reassert Muslim authority among the Arabs –Temporary peace 656: Civil War erupted after assassination of the 3 rd caliph (Uthman) 656: Civil War erupted after assassination of the 3 rd caliph (Uthman) –Those who supported Umayya clan won (661) –Conflict created a major division among the Muslim community

Sunni-Shi’a Split Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad clan Sunni Muslims supported the Umayyad clan –Believed the first 3 caliphs had been accurately chosen Shi’a (Shi’ite) Muslims supported Ali to be caliph Shi’a (Shi’ite) Muslims supported Ali to be caliph –Believed the first 3 caliphs were unfairly chosen The Sunni-Shi’ite conflict still continues to this day. The Sunni-Shi’ite conflict still continues to this day.

Umayyad Caliphate , Umayyad ruled over an Arab Empire , Umayyad ruled over an Arab Empire –Capital in Damascus, Syria Major Features Major Features –Arabic as official language –Use of gold & silver coins as currency –Muslims enjoyed highest social position  Only pay taxes for charity & received share of wealth from caravans –Most people were dhimmi (non-Muslim) –paid the bulk of taxes –Very little attempt to convert non-Muslims –Established major area of influence in Jerusalem

Umayyad Caliphate Gender/Family under Umayyad Gender/Family under Umayyad –Muhammad taught respect for women, saw marriage as important social institution  Denounced adultery, forbade female infanticide  Saw men & women as equals in eyes of Allah –Under Umayyad, men allowed 4 wives  Women allowed only 1 husband –Veiling not practiced –Women involved in various occupations (law, commerce, scholars)

Abbasid Caliphate : Umayyad overthrown during rebellion 750: Umayyad overthrown during rebellion –Abbas took over and established the Abbasid Caliphate Capital at Baghdad Capital at Baghdad Abbasid was a “Golden Age” for Islam Abbasid was a “Golden Age” for Islam –Court-life, literature, learning

Abbasid Caliphate Increase in converts during the Abbasid Increase in converts during the Abbasid –Missionary work to promote conversion Urban expansion Urban expansion –Baghdad became a cultural center and economic hub Trade boomed Trade boomed –Trade routes across the Sahara and throughout the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean –Use of lateen (triangular) sails on ships known as dhows –Extensive trade increased wealth  Reinvested or used to build Mosques, public buildings, religious schools, hospitals (Muslims were unsurpassed in their medical expertise at the time)

Arabian Dhow trade ship Lateen (triangular) sails

Abbasid Caliphate Cities were filled with artisan and craft shops Cities were filled with artisan and craft shops –Unskilled labor performed by slaves  Slavery was not a hereditary condition  Non-Muslims, usually captives from Africa –Qur’an(Koran) forbids enslavement of Muslims, Jews, Christians, or Zoroastrians

Islamic Law: Shari’a Over time, Muslim scholars developed an Islamic law code Over time, Muslim scholars developed an Islamic law code Shari’a Shari’a –Legal stability and common moral code  Followed to varying degrees

Islamic Learning Muslim scholars preserved classical works from the Greek and Hellenistic period Muslim scholars preserved classical works from the Greek and Hellenistic period Adopted the Indian Numeral system & spread it Adopted the Indian Numeral system & spread it –Made advances in algebra and trigonometry Architecture became a form of artistic expression Architecture became a form of artistic expression –Mosques with elaborate mosaics inside –Elaborate palaces for entertaining the elite

Dome of Rock- Jerusalem

Declining Position of Women During the Abbasid, the position of women began to decline During the Abbasid, the position of women began to decline –Harems very popular  Legends of harems with thousands of concubines and eunuchs –Veiling and seclusion became popular  Only slave women allowed to appear in public unescorted However, women did have some rights However, women did have some rights –Own property, right to divorce and remarry, right to testify in court, and the right to go on hajj

Decline of Abbasid Caliphate By mid-800’s Abbasid began to lose power By mid-800’s Abbasid began to lose power –Internal unrest (Sunni-Shi’ite conflict) –Courtly excess became a financial drain –Sunni-Shi’ite conflict –Revolts by non-Muslims and Turkish slaves (Mamluks) Abbasid also faced outside pressures Abbasid also faced outside pressures –Seljuk Turks (nomadic group) seized territory to create the Seljuk Sultanate –Crusaders –Mongol Invasion Abbasid eventually fell in 1258 Abbasid eventually fell in 1258

Muslim Conquests under the Umayyad and Abbasid Muslims began to engage in campaigns against neighboring empires Muslims began to engage in campaigns against neighboring empires –To gain wealth and glorify their religion Seized territory from Byzantine Empire Seized territory from Byzantine Empire Territorial gains in: Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Algeria, Morocco Territorial gains in: Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Algeria, Morocco –Iberian Peninsula became a hub of leaning and culture within Europe

Spread of Islam Islam spread quickly Islam spread quickly –Aided by trade Expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, the Swahili Coast of East Africa, parts of Europe and Asia Expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, the Swahili Coast of East Africa, parts of Europe and Asia More on this later!!! More on this later!!!