1. Section 2: Building a Muslim Empire

2. Warm Up Question (February 22, 2016) You have just “conquered” new territory with a population that is 5 times your own population. How are you going to rule them? What are you going to make your people do?

3. Warm Up Question (February 23, 2016) Throughout life many religious and political leaders have died. (Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jesus, Muhammad) ____________________________________ Name 2 problems society faces when a political / religious leader dies. What choices do people have when a political / religious leader dies?

4. Who Should Lead? Muslims faced a real problem when Muhammad died because he had no one who took his place Abu Bakr who was Muhammad’s father in law stepped in first to be the first successor

5. Arabs Unite Under Islam Abu Bakr faced immediate crisis because some people refused to obey him and so their loyalty to Islam withdrew So what did Abu Bakr do? He went to WAR! He said if you won’t join me then you are against me.

6. Early Victories Under the first 4 caliphs, the Arab Muslims marched from victory to victory against 2 great empires The Byzantines and the Persians fought for several years over land in the Middle East

7. Sunni vs. Shiite Muslims Split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims To this day Sunni and Shiite Muslims are still at odds over who should succeed Muhammad

8. Shiites Muslims One group of Muslims felt that Muhammad had made his son-in-law Ali, to be the successor. Those people were called the Shiites. (Followers of Ali) Shiites believed that the true successor to Muhammad are the descendants of Ali and Muhammad’s daughter.

10. Sunni Muslims Another group called the Sunnis felt that any good Muslim could lead the community, since there could be no prophet after Muhammad died. The Sunni’s split and fought the Shiites. Many Muslims came to an understanding that the successor to Muhammad should be a male Muslim from Muhammad’s tribe. This member is called a caliph (political leader of the religious community) The majority of today’s Muslims are called Sunnis

11. What are the Similarities? Members of both branches believe in the same God. Both look to the Quran for guidance Both follow the 5 Pillars of Islam

12. Differences Differ in religious practices, law and daily life Even, today they discriminate against each other based on their beliefs For example: When Sunni rulers held power, they often favored other Sunnis and gave little to no help to the Shiites and vice versa.

13. Sufis Group that divided from the Sunni and the Shiite population and they are called the Sufis Muslim mystics who sought communion with God through meditation, fasting and other rituals Some believe they have magical powers

14. Umayyad Caliphs Build an Empire After the death of Ali, a powerful Meccan clan set up the Umayyad Caliphate (Sunni) that ruled the Muslim empire until 750. They were really powerful and really helped spread Islam and Muslim civilization to the West (Spain)

15. Spain was Getting Beasted The Umayyad empire expanded rapidly Muslims ruled parts of Spain for centuries after defeating Spain.

16. Why were the Muslims So Good? One factor was the weakness of the Byzantine and Persian Empires Fought each other for so long and for so many years that they were just tired of fighting Many people also welcomed the Muslims because they were tired of being ruled by the Persians and Byzantine Empire. Another reason, was because the Muslims were great warriors in battle. The Muslims were efficient and bold.

18. Facts About Camels Did You Know! Camels can drink up to seven liters of water in a day. Speed: 40 mph maximum (In Short Bursts, Running) Height: 6.1 ft. (Adult, At Shoulder)

19. Treatment of Conquered People The Umayyad imposed certain restrictions and a special tax on Non-Muslims. In time many non-Muslims converted to Islam. (Mainly to gain political or economic advantages) But others were also joined because they liked Islam’s message

20. Decline of the Umayyad Caliphate There was division between the rich people and the poor people in the empire. The caliphs were taking advantage of the money supply and living like Kings. (hypocrites) People were tired of being told to convert to Islam

21. Rise of the Abbasids People who were angry so they found a new leader (Muhammad’s Uncle) He gained a lot of support and captured Damascus in 750 Once he captured the city he killed the family members of Umayyad family. Abu al-Abbas then founded the Abbasid Dynasty which lasted until 1258 (ruled for about 400 years)

22. Changes Under the Abbasids Empire based on equality They stopped going to war Empire gained wealth They didn’t persecute non-Muslims. They focused on education and government Moved their capital from Damascus to Baghdad (opportunities for more trade)

23. Baghdad was a Happening Place to Be Baghdad brought Poets, scholars, philosophers and entertainers from all over the Muslim word Wealthy city (trade) Merchants sold goods from Africa, Asia and Europe there.

24. The Muslim Empire Declines Caliphs power faded over time and that meant there was a new Shiite rulers. Also between 900 and 1400 there were a series of invasions that led to more chaos (Seljuk Turks) Mongols destroy everything