1. Byzantine Empire & Rise of Islam
CHAPTER 6

2. Byzantine Empire
330 AD Emperor Constantine dedicates new capital of Rome – Constantinople (“New Rome”)
Meeting place between East & West; linking land and sea trade routes – commercial center
Political & religious center
Took the name from the Greek city of Byzantium

3. Emperor Justinian
Great period of Byzantine Empire is during emperor Justinian ( )
Greatly helped by his wife Theodora
Nikka Revolt: turning point in Justinian’s reign; he crushes the revolt and firmly establishes his rule over empire
Wanted restore the greatness of the Roman Empire

4. Justinian Code - Law
Most important achievement – preservation of Roman Law
Reorganized the law from Ancient Rome and clarified them; this became the “Justinian Code”
Also “Golden Age” of Byzantine culture – to construct churches, buildings, roads
“Haga Sophia” (meaning Holy Wisdom)

5. Split of East & West Church
Bishop of Rome (later the pope) is the most important religious leader in the West
Patriarch of Constantinople holds the position for the East
After Constantine, East & West Church become rivals

6. Split of East & West Church
Differ over issues like when to celebrate Easter, whether priests should marry, and whether to use icons (painted images of Christ and saints) which some thought idolatrous
Church of East emerged as state church

7. Empire Under Siege Byzantine was threatened by the Arab Muslims
Constantinople defended Arabs using a new weapon called “Greek fire” – explosive mixture of oil, sulphur, saltpeter
Military success under Basil II ( ) known as “Bulgar Slayer” because he crushed the Bulgars in the Balkan region

8. Rise of Islam
Cradle of Islam is the region of Arabia – lies between Asia & Africa
Arabs are descendants of Ishmael – son of Abraham through Hagar
Gen.17:20 “I will make him a great nation”
Bedouins: nomads who roamed the desert in search of pasture and water
Arabs had no central government; loyal to tribe

9. Rise of Islam Islam means “submission
Muslims mean “submitters to Allah”
Founder of Islam: Muhammad ( )
Born in Mecca into a poor family; orphaned at age 6
Marries his wealthy employer 15yrs older
Deeply influenced by monotheism of Christianity and Judaism

10. Rise of Islam Receives vision from Gabriel
Considers himself a messenger of God and prophet
Muhammad is ridiculed by peers in Mecca
Mecca was a leading trade center which held Kaaba – sacred shrine that housed hundreds of pagan idols
Kicked out because he preaches monotheism

11. Rise of Islam
Muhammad flees to Medina – move known as Hegira or “flight”
At Medina, followers of Muhammad increase rapidly and he becomes the political, military, and religious leader
Comes back to Mecca and destroys Kaaba to make it an Islamic center

12. Teachings of Islam Koran: sacred book of Muslims
Composed of 114 chapters (suras) and prime authority on Muslim belief
According to Koran, Allah sent 100,000 prophets to reveal his will and Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet

13. Five Pillars 5 Pillars Shahadah: thesis of Islam
“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.”
2. Salat: “prayers” – praying 5 times a day facing Mecca
3. Zakat: “purification” – alms (money) given to the poor

14. Five Pillars
5 Pillars
4. Sawm: fast that Muslims observe from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime

15. Spread of Islam Muhammad did not point a successor
First 4 successors were called “caliphs” and the first caliph was Abu Bakr (father of one of Muhammad’s wives)
Reasons for rapid Expansion of Islam
Desire for fertile land
Byzantine & Persian empires were already weak
Each conquest was viewed as “jihad” (holy war) and their fervor produced a fighting spirit

16. Spread of Islam
661 AD Muslim general becomes caliph and establishes Umayyads rule
Moves capital from Mecca to Damascus
Continues arab expansion to North Africa, India, Constantinople, and invades Spain
Finally stopped by Franks at the Battle of Tours (732 AD) which stops Muslim advance into Europe

17. Muslim Culture Muslim Culture Most famous muslim poet: Omar Khayyam
Mathematics: muslims borrowed their math knowledge from India
Medicine: developed new medical procedures
Muslim physicians: al-Razi, ibn Sina