1. Rise and Spread of Islam

2. I. Religious beginnings
Muhammad ( )
Early life: trader and businessman, roots in Bedouin culture
Age of 40 – voice called to him as he meditated outside city of Mecca
Voice of angel Gabriel, messenger of Allah
Became convinced he was last of prophets and Allah was the one and only god

3. II. Basic Beliefs & Practices
Monotheistic - “Allah” is Arabic for “God”
Five Pillars of Islam (duties all Muslims have to perform)
Faith – one must have faith in Allah and believe Muhammad to be the one true prophet
Prayer – pray towards the direction of Mecca five times a day
All mosques have a wall that indicates the direction of Mecca

4. II. Continued… Other beliefs/practices
Alms – responsibility to support those less fortunate
Fasting – holy month of Ramadan, do not eat between sunup and sunset
Pilgrimage – if physically & financially able, all Muslims perform the Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca
Other beliefs/practices
Qur’an (holy book) – Arabic version is only true version
Shari’a – system of law that regulates family life, moral conduct, business, community life
Hadiths – traditions of Muhammad

5. III. Muslim Empire
After death of Muhammad, Muslim community elected series of caliphs – meaning “successor” or “deputy”
First four caliphs called caliphate, most successful leaders
Abu-Bakr (first caliph) faced a number of people abandoning Islam, refusing to pay taxes, appearance of false prophets
Called for jihad – can refer to inner struggle against evil or armed struggle against unbelievers
Justification for initial territorial expansion

6. IV. Imperial Expansion
By 750, Muslim empire stretched 6,000 miles from Atlantic Ocean to Indus River
Why so successful, so quickly?
Armies well disciplined, expert commanders
Byzantine and Sassanid Empires to the north were already weak from fighting each other
People persecuted under other empires welcomed Muslim invaders
Many converted to Islam on their own
Against Muslim beliefs to force someone to convert
Christians and Jews: dhimmni – “people of the book”
Had protected status in Muslim empire

7. V. Islam’s Split
661 – Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, last of elected caliphs, was assassinated
Powerful family called Umayyads took power
Moved capital to Damascus
Abandoned simple life of previous caliphs, embraced wealth and luxury
Most accepted Umayyads’ rule
Became known as Sunnis – “followers of Muhammad’s example”

8. V. Continued…
Some claimed that caliphs had to be descendant of Muhammad
Became known as Shi’a – “party of Ali”
Followers known as Shi’ites
Third group called Sufi
Rejected the luxurious life of Umayyads
Pursued life of poverty and devotion to spiritual path
Distribution map

9. VI. Continuous Expansion
Umayyads overthrown in 750
Another powerful family, the Abbasids seized control
Moved capital to Baghdad in central Iraq
Located on key trade routes, better communication
Expanded trade from Mediterranean Sea to South China Sea
Merchant and landlord classes grew in both wealth and social status
By late era of Abbasid rule, plagued by political divisions
Shi’a revolts and assassination attempts

10. VII. Gender Roles Women had greater role in early days of Islam
Muhammad’s wives helped write the Qur’an
Muhammad denounced adultery
Men could have up to four wives
But only if man could support all equally
Women had greater inheritance rights and the right to divorce
Muhammad’s daughters and wives helped compile the Qur’an
As empire expanded, women’s rights diminished
Islamic law evolved over time and adapted other cultures’ beliefs

13. VIII. Medieval Muslim Culture
Combination of many different cultures (Arabic, Persian, Jewish, Christian) created a culture that was unique and sophisticated for its time
Social classes based mostly on religion
Upper class: Muslims by birth
Second class: converts
Third class: dhimmi – “protected people”, “people of the book”
Lowest class: slaves

14. VIII. Continued… Rise of cities
Only China rivaled Muslim Empire in number of large urban areas
Baghdad, Damascus, Cordoba, Cairo – all populous and centers of learning and trade
Baghdad reached 1 million
Intellectual contributions (see video notes)
Muhammad stressed the need for learning in original writings
Led to Muslim Empire being most sophisticated in world for its time
Later helped jumpstart European Renaissance