3. The Arabian Peninsula A crossroads of three continents
Africa, Europe, Asia
Agriculture only in the south and near modern Oman
Desert and Town Life
Nomads-Bedouins
Kinship-Clans-Tribes (fragmented…)
Warlike behavior
Protection of scarce resources

5. Crossroads of Trade and Ideas
Oases
Fertile Areas
Farming communities
Market towns
Trade
Mecca
Nomad > sedentary
Traits from nomadic culture transfer to urban setting
Cultural diffusion
Religions
polytheisim + Zoroastrianism + Judaism + Christianity

6. Muhammad Born in ~570ad to a merchant family Orphaned Caravan manager
Religious, political, & military leader

7. The Life of Muhammad Troubled by inequality and dishonesty
Meditation and revelation
Mecca & Umayyad resistance
Medina; City of the Prophet 622ad
Return to Mecca 630ad
Muhammad dies 632ad
No separate political and religious authority Government is religion

8. The Teachings “Islam” “Muslim” Monotheism A Prophet only
The Quran also; Qu’ran, Koran
The 5 Pillars
“Jihad”
Shari ah Law
“People of the Book”

9. Caliph- “Successor to the Prophet”
Abu Bakr
Chosen by the Umma ad
Umar I
Chosen by the Umma ad
Uthman
Chosen by the Umma ad
Ali
Blood relative of the Prophet Assassinated ad
The split of Islam
“SUNNI” Shiat Ali (Shiite)
Caliph Should The “party of Ali”
Be chosen by the the caliph should
Islamic community be a blood relative

10. Creation of an Arab Empire
The Umayyad Dynasty ( ad)
Founded by Muawiya (Ali’s successor)
Succession hereditary
Capital moved to Damascus
Conquest extended from Christian Spain to Afghanistan
Battle of Tours- 732ad
Non-Arabs excluded from “Umma”
Mawali rebellion

12. The Abbasids (750-1258ad) Claimed descendants of M’s uncle
The “Golden Age”
Capital to Baghdad & Urban expansion
Change in role of Women
Too large to control
Rebellions, Slave revolts, peasant uprisings
~800-ish a.d. areas in Africa & Asia break away
Abbasids control only Middle East
Seljuk Turks
Hired as Abbasid auxiliary Army
Eventually Seljuk leaders more powerful
“Sultan” Tughril-takes over Baghdad
Turks fall to Mongols 1258ad

14. Prosperity in the Islamic World
Abbasids- based on extensive trade-
Restoration of Afro-Eurasian trade networks
Oceanic
Over-land
Cities
Economic, cultural and administrative centers
“Bazaar”
Large open-air market(like Greek “Agora”)
Even had municipal health inspectors

15. Islamic Society The Eyes of Allah Women and Slaves
Preservation of Knowledge
Madrasas
Science
Literature
Quran
The Arabian Nights (Khayyam)
Introduction to History (Ibn Khaldun)
Art & Architecture
No Human depiction
Exceptions