 During ancient times, Arabs lived in much of the area from the Arabian peninsula to the Euphrates River.

 Most Arabs were bedouins.  Bedouins were nomads – people who move from place to place

 They traded with people they met, like those who settle near an oasis – a desert area that contains water.

 They lived in clans – groups of people who share a common ancestor.  They were great fighters and became important members of many armies.

 Small market towns grew into cities.  Mecca and Medina were two oasis cities – cities that grew up near an oasis.

 Products from Asia, Africa and Europe were traded along sea and land routes through Arabia.  Religions like Judaism and Christianity were also spread by traders along these routes.

 Mecca was the most important trade and religious center in Arabia.  Many people went on pilgrimage from all parts of Arabia to worship at the shrine Ka’aba.  A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place.

 Some Arabs were monotheistic – believed in one God. They believed Abraham built Ka’aba as a temple to God (Allah).  Other Arabs were polytheistic – believed in many gods.  Others blended Christian and Jewish beliefs with their own beliefs.  This is the type of environment that Muhammad was born into.

Muhammad’s Early Life  Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a powerful family.  His father died before he was born his mother died soon after he was born.  Muhammad was raised by his grandparents and uncle.

 At 25 years old Muhammad married Khadija.  They had 3 sons (all died in childhood) and 4 daughters (all survived). Only one daughter, Fatima, lived after Muhammad died.  He became a wealthy merchant.

 At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad and told him he was the messenger of God.  Muhammad began to teach there was only one God and his name was Allah.  This became the base for the religion Islam – a monotheistic religion based on submitting to God’s will.

 Muhammad began teaching in Mecca, but the people were afraid of this new religion.  Muhammad and his followers were called Muslims.  The Muslims were persecuted.  The left Mecca and moved to Medina.  The journey from Mecca to Medina was called the Hijrah.

 In 630 Muhammad and his followers returned to Mecca.  Muhammad had become a political, military and religious leader.  Muhammad and his followers defeated the people in Mecca.  Muhammad made Ka’aba a building for Allah.

 The Qur’an (Koran) is the Muslim holy book.  It is a collection of the words God shared with Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.  The Sunnah is the Muslim guide for living.  It shows Muslims how to apply Muhammad’s teachings in every day life.

 Muslims follow The Five Pillars of Islam.  They are the 5 duties all Muslims must perform.

 1. Testimony and declaration of faith.  2. Pray 5 times a day.  3. Give to the poor.  4. Fast during the month of Ramadan  5. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once

 In addition to the 5 Pillars of Islam, Muslims must follow other laws:  A. They cannot eat pork.  B. They cannot drink alcohol.  C. They must worship on Friday afternoon.  D. They worship in a building called a mosque.  E. Mosques all face Mecca and Muslims must pray facing Mecca.

 After Muhammad’s death in 632, his friend and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, became the first caliph.  A caliph is to lead the people by following Muslim laws in the Qur’an.

 After Abu Bakr died the next caliphs were:  A. Umar  B. Uthman  C. Ali The first 4 Caliphs followed the Qur’an exactly and were called the “rightly guided caliphs”.

 Under the first 4 Caliphs, the Arabs took over the Persian Empire, seized some of Byzantium’s provinces, and invaded Europe.  They believed Allah’s support was the reason for their victory.

 The Muslim warriors believed they were engaged in a jihad or a holy war to spread Islam to nonbelievers.  If they died in jihad they would go to a place in paradise.

 Caliph Uthman and Ali were both killed.  The Umayyad family took control and began the Umayyad Dynasty.

 Muslims began to question how to choose their leaders.  Some felt they should accept the Umayyad’s rule. They were called Sunnis – followers of the Sunnah.  Others felt they should follow caliphs only. They were called Shi’a.

 The Abbasid caliph opposed the Umayyads.  In 750 they forced the Umayyads to flee to Spain where they set up a new Umayyad Dynasty.  This was a permanent split in the Muslim Empire.

 Muslim Golden Age  The Abbasids built a standing army – an army that is maintained during times of peace and war.  They moved the capital to Baghdad and it became a major trading center in the world.  The strong economy led to a golden age – a period where a society gains prosperity and cultural achievements.

 Under the Abbasids, the Muslims became skilled in:  A. Calligraphy – fine handwriting  B. Quatrain – four-line poems  C. Algebra – wrote the first Algebra book  D. Identified diseases like smallpox and measles  E. Set up hospitals to treat everyone – even poor people who couldn’t pay.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? -From William Blake's "The Tyger“ Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? ����������������� ������������������� �� Thou art more lovely and more temperate Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, � And summer’s lease hath all too short a date - From William Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVII The mountain frames the sky As a shadow of an eagle flies by With clouds hanging at its edge A climber proves his courage on its rocky ledge - The Mountain by Donna Brock Write your own quatrain here:

 The Abbasid caliphs ignored their government responsibilities and did not protect merchants.  They began to be challenged by their own people.  In 1055 the Seljuk Turks took over the empire, but were defeated by the Christians during the Crusades.  In 1258 the Mongols took over and killed the Abbasid caliph which ended the Abbasid Dynasty.

 Abd al-Rahman was an Umayyad leader.  He fled to Spain when the Abbasids took control of the Muslim Empire in Arabia.  He took control of al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) and made Cordoba the capital city.  Many Umayyad followers moved to Spain.  Abd al-Rahman III named himself the first caliph of Cordoba.

 Cordoba became one of the largest cities in Western Europe.  It was wealthy and an important city for trade.  It was a center for culture and learning.

 Many advances took place in Muslim Spain: A. Calendars B. Planetariums C. Encyclopedia of Geography  Jews were welcomed by the Umayyads  They developed their own culture.  This was a golden age for the Jews.

 In 1204 al-Andalus began to fall apart.  Muslims were fighting each other for control.  Christians began attacking in the North and by the 1490s they had gained control of almost all al-Andalus.