Islam I.Islam as a religion II.Islam as an empire III.Spread of Islam as a universal religion IDs: hadith, sharia, Sufis, Abbasid Caliphate,
Argument Although the universal religions spread in similar ways, they had different relationships with empires. Christianity took over an empire (Rome); Buddhism spread in spite of an empire (Tang China); and Islam created an empire.
I. Islam as a Religion A.Origin Allah Muhammad Prophet
B. Texts 1. Quran (Koran, Qu’ran) Orally: Written Down: 650
2. Hadith Traditions (stories & sayings) Oral transmission: Written down:
C. Islam in Theory & Practice 1. Theology Five Pillars Hajj Ramadan Mecca
2. Law: Sharia a.Quran b.Hadith c.Reasoning by analogy (jurists) d.Consensus of community Qadis Ulama
3. Mysticism: Sufis Meditation Poetry Music dance
II. Islam as an Empire
A. Muslim Arab Conquests, Conquered Persian Empire & southern part of Byzantine Empire
Policies towards Conquered people Tolerance for “People of the Book” (Jews & Christians)
B. Political Organization Caliph – successor to the Prophet Caliphate – Muslim/Islamic empire
Two Caliphates Umayyad Caliphate ( ) capital: Damascus Arab Abbasid Caliphate ( ) capital: Baghdad Muslim (Persian)
After 900, lots of Muslim states in Islamic world.
D. Multiethnic Empire Arab Persian Turk
E. Factors promoting Unity Even after the Muslim world was no longer governed in one big caliphate, certain factors unified Muslims despite their different ethnic groups and states Arabic language hajj support for merchants
Muslim rulers supported cities, merchants, education and technology The Muslim world was connected by a web of cities Pilgrims, Sufis, and qadis (legal scholars) carried knowledge throughout Muslim world
Support for Schools & Research preserved & combined Greek, Persian & Indian knowledge then built on it
III. Spread of Islam : by conquest & empire 732-onwards: by trade and missionary journeys
III. Spread of Islam A.Sub-Saharan Africa Merchants Ghana Mali Swahili Coast
A. Trade & Religion: Islam in Africa Gold-Salt Trade: Empires of Ghana, Mali & Songhay
B. Islam in SE Asia
C. Islam in South Asia: Conquest & Trade 712: Sind (n.w. India) by Arab-Persian Muslims : Conversion of Turks from Central Asia to Islam Turks conquer parts of North India