2. The Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula - A crossroads of three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe
Mostly desert with small amount of fertile land
Bedouins – Nomadic tribes that live in the desert (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, etc.)
Live in clans and herd animals
Migrate between the dry and wet seasons
Trade with other clans and villages/towns
Polytheistic – worshipped gods including lunar deity Allah

3. The Prophet Muhammed
A.D. 570: Muhammad is born into a powerful Bedouin merchant family
Born in Present-Day Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Becomes a trader, marries wealthy businesswoman, Khadijah
AD. 610: Muhammad received a revelation from the angel Gabriel while praying in the wilderness
He had been wondering at the difference between rich and poor around him – went to think about it
The Angel told him there is one God, Allah; Muhammad is his prophet
Gabriel told Muhammad to spread the word that Allah is the true God of the world

4. The Prophet Muhammed (Cont.)
Muhammad founds religion of Islam—“submission to the will of Allah”
Tells people about his revelation and the identity Allah, his role as Allah’s prophet
Followers of Islam are Muslim—“one who has submitted”
There weren’t many people that actually converted to Islam in the beginning though – they wanted to keep their old Gods
According to tradition, it took 3 years to get 30 followers

6. The Hijrah
Muhammad’s followers are attacked; they are exiled from Mecca in A.D. 622 – go to Medina (Hijrah)
Muhammad attracts many more followers in Medina, becomes great leader:
-political leader—joins Jews and Arabs of Medina as a single community
-religious leader—draws more converts to Islam
-military leader—tackles growing hostilities between Mecca and Medina
A.D. 630: Muhammad and 10,000 followers return to and conquer Mecca
Continues military expansion of Islam throughout Arabian Peninusla

7. Islam Main Teachings of Islam Only one god – Allah
People are equal under Islam
People are responsible for their actions; there is good and evil
Muhammad rose to heaven to learn Allah’s will
Respect the people of the book: Christians and Jews

8. Sources of Authority
Qur’an— Holy book of Islam
Contains revelations Muhammad received from Allah
Believed Muhammad didn’t write them down himself because he was illiterate
Guidance of Qur’an assembled in Shari’a – Laws taken from Qur’an Muslims must follow
Operates outside of legal courts (religious court)
Many Muslim dominant countries operate under Shari’a rather than legal courts

9. Sharia Law
12- Sharia dictates death by stoning, beheading, amputation of limbs, flogging even for crimes of sin such as adultery

10. Islam (Cont.)
Muslims must carry out five duties—the Five Pillars of Islam
-statement of faith to Allah and to Muhammad as his prophet
-pray five times a day, can use a Mosque—Islamic house of worship
-give alms, or money for the poor
-fast between dawn and sunset during holy month of Ramadan
-perform the Hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca—at least once in their lifetime

11. Five Pillars of Islam Activity
Students will get a white piece of paper and draw five pillars on it
Students will cut out pillars and paste them onto a sheet of construction paper
Students will then look up the Five Pillars of Islam and write down the titles of the pillars and the definitions/duties for each pillar
Students will then answer documents comparing Islam with Christianity and staple the documents to the back of the pillars
Students will turn in the pillars/documents stapled together and continue with the Classical Column project