Spread of Islam

Where did Islam Spread? Diffusion along trade routes from Mecca and Medina Fertile Crescent, N. Africa, Asia (weak Byzantine and Persian Empires) Arabic language spread

Why Did Islam Spread? Reasons for appeal: 1. simple, direct message 2. equality of all believers 3. based on oral traditions – did not need to be literate spread quickly along trade routes, w/ military victories

How did Islam Spread? Muhammad issues jihad – “Holy War” After Muhammad’s death, who should rule???? Caliph = Successor Each Caliph was elected Qu’ran as guide

4 Rightly Guided Caliphs CE Abu Bakr: Unites Arabia Writes down Qur’an Umar: Conquers Syria, Egypt & parts of Persia Uthman & Ali: By 750, empires went from Atlantic Ocean to Indus Valley, including Spain Division of Muslims about who should rule – Sunni & Shi’a (Shiites)

Why Were the Caliphs Successful? 1.disciplined armies 2.weak Byzantine and Persian Empires 3.persecuted people welcomed them as liberators 4.Message appealing 5.no payment of Tax

Umayyad Dynasty CE Moved capital to Damascus Caliphs chosen by heredity Abandoned simple life -- Surrounded themselves with wealth – (Simple life  wealthy life) These facts lead to a fundamental division in Muslim community

Sunni – Shi’a Split  Support all four Calpihs  Any religious person can interpret Qu’ran  80% of Muslims  Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia  Party of Ali  Calpihs – direct descendants of Muhammad  Only Imam can interpret Qu’ran  20% of Muslims  Iran Shi’as – Shiites Sunnis

Abbasid Dynasty CE 750 CE – Abbasids take over Murder remaining Umayyads Move capital to Baghdad – center of family power Religious leaders helped control empire

Spread of Islam Across Asia and Africa, and into Spain

Islamic Holy Cities Mecca – site of Ka’aba Medina – city of prophet – Hijrah Jerusalem – Dome of the Rock – Muhammad ascends to heaven. Mecca Medina Jerusalem

Historical Turning Points 1.Death of Ali - Sunni-Shi’a division – Who should lead Islam? 2.Muslim conquest of Damascus – Umayyad Dynasty 3.Islamic capital moved to Baghdad – Abbasid Dynasty 4.Muslim defeat at the Battle of Tours – 732 CE – Stopped Spread of Islam into Europe 5.Fall of Baghdad to the Mongols – 1258 CE – End of Islamic Empire

The Spread of Islam 2 1. For each group of rulers, identify the period of their rule and at least two developments that affected the growth or strength of Islam during that period. Section 2 Assessment continued... HOME Rightly Guided Caliphs Umayyads Abbasids RulersDevelopments in Islam Period of Rule Spread of Islam east and west, tolerance of Jews and Christians Shift of capital to Baghdad, growth of Muslim trade network Split between Sunni and Shi’a, development of Sufi movement GRAPH

Jews Believe Muslims Believe Christians Believe All Believe Think About: Founding Major branches Holy Book Law Teachings Prophets Place of worship Pre-AP: write a thesis statement comparing and contrasting the three monotheistic religions