1. Rise of Islam and the First Empires

2. The Life of Muhammad and the genesis of Islam
Muhammad influenced the worship of a single, almighty god - Allah
Orphaned
Resided in Mecca as a trader
Married the widow Khadijah
Revelations from Allah were given to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel in 610 CE
Revelations were written in Arabic & collected in the Qur’an
Basis for Islam
Muhammed is seen as threat to the Umayyads
Flees Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) on what is known as the Hijra (Ist year of Islamic Calendar)
Quraysh launched a series of attacks on Muhammad and his followers in Medina

4. Reasons for Islam in the Arab World
Islam offered monotheism equal to that of Christianity & Judaism
Also it was distinctively Arabic in origin
Umma (Islamic community) offered political unity for tribal boundaries
Bedouins united and conquered the Middle East
Islam provided ethics
Zakat – tax for charity
Muhammad’s teachings & revelations in the Qur’an regulated ALL aspects of Muslim life
Last Judgment

5. The Arab empire of Umayyads
Consolidation & Division in the Islamic Community
There was a leadership crisis after Muhammad’s death
Who should become the caliph?
Abu Bakr
Succeeded Muhammad as the 1st Caliph
Ridda Wars
defeat of rival prophets
Restores unity of Islam

7. Weakness of Adversary Empires
A. Sassanid Empire
Zoroastrianism
Animistic religions
Based on moral choices
Muslims assassinated Sassanian rulers the ended the Sassanid empire in 651
Byzantine Empire
Christian sects (Copts & Nestorians) rallied to Arab Muslims since they would tolerate Christians and tax them less heavily
Copts & Nestorians viewed as heretics by Orthodox Byzantines
The Byzantine empire survived Islam, but was constantly under siege by Muslim attacks

8. Succession and the Sunni – Shiite split
Uthman - 3rd caliph
unpopular because he was chosen by the Umayyad
Murdered by disobedient warriors
Ali proclaimed caliph causing a split within Islam
Ali
Rejected by Umayyads as caliph
Battle of Siffin
Loses support because he tries to mediate with Umayyads
Umayyad leader Mu’awiya proclaimed Caliph of Jerusalem & challenges Ali’s position
Assassinated, 661
Ali’s Son, Hasan,
renounces caliphate due to pressure from Umayyads
Husayn (Ali’s other son) claims Caliphate
Killed, Karbala, 680

10. Spread and Decline Alienation of Muslim faith led to revolts
Umayyad Imperium
Spread conquests into
Central Asia
Islam rivaled with Buddhism
Northwest India
North Africa
Expansion into Europe blocked by Charles Martel and the Franks at Gibraltar
Center of Islam shifts from Mecca to Damascus
Alienation of Muslim faith led to revolts
The Abbasid Revolt in Merv
Supported by Shiites & Malwai
Defeated Umayyads

12. Early Abbasid Era Islam became a universal religion Sunni rule Baghdad
Suppressed Shiites who were seen as heretics
Baghdad
Capital of the Abbasid dynasty
Bureaucratization of Islamic Empire
Islamic Conversion & Mawali acceptance
Integration of Arab & Non-Arab converts
Most converted willingly

13. Commercial Boom, Agrarian Expansion, and Social Standings
Dhows – sailing vessels
Traded with Christians and Jews
Urbanization
Government & private workshops
Ayan – landowning elite
Artisians were poorly paid
Slaves did labor and unskilled work