1. Spread of Islam

2. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community.
Muhammad’s Successors:
Muhammad had not named successor
No clear candidate
Abu Bakr, close companion, father-in-law, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor”, political & religious leader of Muslim community, but not a prophet, area governed, caliphate

3. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community.
Priorities:
Abu Bakr focused on reunifying Bedouin tribes
Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control
Reunified Arabia, jihad directed towards north

4. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community.
Expansion of territory:
Abu Bakr’s, successor Omar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly
637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq
642 victory over Persian Empire complete

5. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community.
Reasons for expansion of territory:
Prolonged drought on Arabian peninsula
Desire of leaders to channel energies of new converts
Meccan ruling elites desire to extend trade routes, control surplus producing areas
Desert fighting style

6. Rightly Guided Caliphs

7. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Expansion:
After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west
Byzantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem
639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule

8. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Empire:
Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire
Conquests continued under later caliphs
661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East

9. Rightly Guided Caliphs

10. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Umar ibn Elkhattab:
spread Islam to Syria, Egypt, and Persia
redesigned government
paid soldiers, held a census, made taxes more fair, built roads and canals, aided poor
assassinated

11. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Internal Conflict and Division:
Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph
Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali
644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad

12. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Internal Conflict and Division:
Uthman:
Muhammad's son-in-law; wealthy merchant
Member of Umayyad clan
First years of rule were peaceful, but later had financial problems
Ordered the compilation of a definitive Qur'an
Accused of nepotism
Murdered by Egyptian rebels

13. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Ali’s Troubles:
Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular
Uthman killed by rebels
Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun
Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control

14. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Sunnis and Shias:
Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph, Mu’awiya
Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet”
Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads
Became known as the Shia, “party of Ali”

15. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The Shia and Imams:
Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants
Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs
Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam
Imam means “leader”
For the Shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.

16. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Conflict:
Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shia after deaths of Mu’awiya, Ali– 14 Umayyad caliphs
Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim
Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid
Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq

17. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Further Division:
Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shia has remained bitter
Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis
Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals

18. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Basic Differences Between Muslims:
Sunni Beliefs:
Early Caliphs First four caliphs were rightful rulers
Muslim ruler Only a descendant of Muhammad and Ali may be imam, or ruler
Sources of Qur’an, Sunna and teaching of imams Islam

19. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Basic Differences Between Muslims:
Shia Beliefs:
Early Caliphs Only Ali, Muhammad’s son in law, was legitimate
Muslim ruler Any Muslim who follows Muhammad’s example can be ruler
Sources of Qur’an and Sunna of Muhammad Islam

21. Umayyad Dynasty Ruled from A.D. 680 to 750
Caliphal capital moved to Damascus, in prosperous province of Syria
14 caliphs succeeded Mu'awiya

22. Umayyad Dynasty Continued Expansion:
Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn
Achievements:
Established Arabic as official language
Made coinage uniform throughout empire
Began first great work of Islamic architecture, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

23. Umayyad Dynasty Administrative Reforms:
-Caliph appointed governors to rule far-flung provinces
-Governors ruled from strong garrison towns
-Spoils from victories helped finance Umayyad government

24. Umayyad Dynasty Military conquests:
Armies conquered territory to borders of China, Indus River Valley, to east
Took northern Africa, most of Spain, to west
Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however

25. Umayyad Dynasty Ruling the Empire:
Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size
Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered
Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality
Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition

26. Umayyad Dynasty Ruling the Empire:
Instituted a three-level tax system:
Muslims: paid zakat
2) Muslim converts, considered mawali, paid higher tax than Muslims
3) Non-Muslims paid highest tax, jizya (security tax)

27. Umayyad Dynasty End of Umayyad Dynasty:
Displeasure with Umayyads widespread
Shia continued opposition
Also unrest among conquered people, some Arab tribes
Many devout Muslims opposed extravagant lifestyles of Umayyad rulers
Persians resented secondary status in Umayyad empire
Umayyads weakened by discontent, time ripe for rebellion

28. Umayyad Dynasty Rebellion:
Abbasids, led by descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, united many Umayyad opponents by appearing to support their causes
Abbasids wiped out Umayyads in series of battles, late 740s
Caliphate entered Abbasid dynasty

29. Abbasid Dynasty Baghdad
Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor
Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq
Persian Influence
Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world
Abbasids adopted Persian style of government

30. Abbasid Dynasty Government Rulers cut off from people
Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen
Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state

31. Abbasid Dynasty Change in Islam Nature of Islam changed
Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures

32. Abbasid Dynasty Importance of Trade Islam spread through trade
Muslim traders journeyed from end to end of caliphate, exchanging goods and information
Exchange brought Islam to West Africa, Southeast Asia
Trade helped fund cultural achievement

33. Abbasid Dynasty
Most prominent Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, helped bring culture to great heights, 786 to 809
Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences

34. Abbasid Dynasty End of Unity
As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate.

35. Abbasid Dynasty Challenges from Europe
European Christians weakened Muslim rule
Christian armies began to drive Muslims out of Spain, 1000s
European Christians began Crusades
Wanted to make Holy Land Christian, won at first
Muslims eventually retook Jerusalem

36. Abbasid Dynasty Problems from Egypt
969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt
Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah
From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea
Disrupted Abbasid trade
Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids

37. Abbasid Dynasty Problems from Egypt
969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt
Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah
From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea
Disrupted Abbasid trade
Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids

38. Abbasid Dynasty Seljuk Turks and others: Seljuk Turks
Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks
1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad
Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph

39. Abbasid Dynasty War Against Byzantine Empire
Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert
Seljuks would go on to create own empire

40. Abbasid Dynasty Mamlukes and Mongols
1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria
1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished
Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia

41. Abbasid Dynasty