Key Terms Ch pg 269 Caliph Umayyads Shi’a Sunni Sufi Abbasids Al-Andalus Fatimid

World History Mr. Morris

Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam In order to choose a successor for Muhammad, the Muslim community used tribal customs Abu-Bakr became the first caliph (deputy/successor)

“Rightly Guided” Caliphs The first four caliphs had all known Muhammad All used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions as guides “Rightly guided” Their rule was known as a caliphate Shortly after Muhammad’s death, some Arabian tribes abandoned Islam After this and the refusal of some tribes to pay taxes, Abu-Bakr declared a jihad – armed struggle against unbelievers The next four caliphs expanded the Muslim Empire until it stretched 6,000 miles from the Atlantic to the Indus

Reasons for Success The “rightly guided” caliphs made great progress in spreading Islam Muslims saw their victories as a sign of Allah’s approval While they had a good military, Muslim victories were mostly due to the weakness of the empires that they fought Those in the other empires welcomed Muslims as liberators because they were persecuted if they did not support the state religion Liked Islam because it offered hope and equality

Treatment of Conquered Peoples The Qur’an forbids forced religious conversion Those who were conquered were free to choose their religion Special consideration for Christians and Jews Those who did not convert had to pay a poll tax to be exempt from military service Christians and Jews could not spread their religion but they were allowed to be officials, scholars, and bureaucrats

Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis While their military was powerful, the Muslim community couldn’t stay unified Differences based on who should take over as caliph Eventually the elective system of choosing caliphs ended The Umayyads took power and moved the capital to Damascus from Mecca Took on a very wealthy lifestyle, unlike previous caliphs Caused a division among the Muslims

The Sunni-Shi’a Split Most people accepted the rule of the Umayyads One small group of people resisted the rule of the Umayyads, saying that only descendants of Muhammed were fit to be caliph Shi’a – “party” of Ali (nephew of Muhammed) Those who did not resist the rule of the Umayyads were called Sunnis “Followers of Muhammad’s example” Third group, called Sufis, rejected the luxurious life of the Umayyads Pursued lives of poverty Abbasids overthrew the Umayyads in 750 and took control of the empire

Control Extends Over Three Continents After the Abbasids rose to power, they murdered all the remaining members of the Umayyad family One Umayyad prince escaped and set up a caliphate in Spain

Abbasids Consolidate Power Moved capital to Baghdad, Iraq Access to trade goods, gold, and information about the empire Developed a strong bureaucracy Treasury, army business, diplomats Taxed land, imports and exports, and land of non-Muslims to pay for bureaucracy

Rival Groups Divide Muslim Lands Abbasids ruled until 1258 Other independent Muslim states emerged The Fatimid caliphate was formed by Shi’as who claimed that they were descended from Fatima, Muhammad’s daughter Smaller states were still connected to Abbasids through language, religion, trade, and economy

Muslim Trade Network Two major sea trading routes Mediterranean Sea Indian Ocean Empire united through common language and currency (Arabic, dinar) Banks were established, lending credit through checks In Cordoba, at one end of the Muslim Empire, there were 200,000 people Paris had 38,000