1. Chapter Six The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam

2. Desert and Town: The Pre-Islamic Arabian World
The first global civilization began on the Arabian peninsula with Bedouin, or nomadic cultures.
For the most part, the landscape was inhospitable, although coastal regions had extensive agriculture.
Generally, people were organized into clans (kin-related) and tribes (banded together in times of crisis).

3. Desert and Town: The Pre-Islamic Arabian World
Clan cohesion caused inter-clan rivalries and war over the control of pasturelands, where grazing lands were for their animals.
Transcontinental trading was very common. Wealthy merchants were often part of the elite in society.
Mecca and Medina were important cities for trading and later, for Islam.

4. Marriage, Women and Family in Pre-Islamic Arabia
Women played important roles, such as milking camels, weaving cloth, raising children.
Many tribes descended through the mother, since fathers moved a lot because of trading.
Men had to pay a bride-price instead of a dowry.

5. Art, Language, Poetry and Culture
For most clans, there was not a lot of art or even material culture.
There was no written language.
Poetry was popular.
Religion- blend of animism and polytheism.
Some clans believed in one God.

6. Life of Muhammad
In Islam, Muhammad is known as the last and greatest of all God’s prophets.
Many people from Arabia migrated to Mesopotamia where they were influenced by monotheistic religions, such as Christianity and Judaism.
Muhammad was born into a prominent and respected clan.
He was a trader and was impacted by monotheism along his journeys.

7. Life of Muhammad
According to Islamic beliefs, Muhammad spent a lot of his time mediating, where he received his first revelation in Mecca.
Muslims believe that God (Allah) transmitted revelations through an angel named Gabriel.
These revelations were later written down in Arabic and are called the Qu’ran.

8. Life of Muhammad
Muhammad only had a small following but it quickly grew.
Other clans saw Muhammad as a threat and planned on killing him.
Muhammad had to flee from Mecca to Medina.
Muhammad continued to gather more and more followers and he eventually won over his rivals.

9. Islam Islam transcended tribes, clans and class divisions.
Helped to end many feuds and helped to build community
Helped develop an ethical system and moral code.
People now were held accountable for actions.

10. Muhammad's Successor
After Muhammad died in 632 CE, there was a struggle about who should succeed him.
One of the clans decided that a caliph (political and religious successor) should be designated.
Ali- the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad
Too young
Abu Bakr- close friend and earlier follower of Muhammad

11. Sunni and Shia Muslims
The main division between Sunni and Shia Muslims is not a religious one, but a political one.
Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr was the best choice as caliph. (85%)
Shia Muslims believe that Ali should have been picked as caliph, as the successor should have been kept in the family. Shia Muslims do not recognize the authority of elected Muslim leaders. (15%)

12. Spread of Islam
Islamic faithful began to turn one bedouin tribe after another into an Islamic tribe.
Brought Arabian tribes into the Islamic fold.
Arab warriors were driven by many forces.
Common cause and strength
Unity
A share of the riches to be won in conquest
Glorify new religion

14. Spread of Islam Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Most vulnerable
Power in hands of autocratic ruler
Exploited farmers
Muslim victories= retreat
Captial taken, armies destroyed
651 CE- last ruler assassinated
Byzantine Empire
Muslim invaders received support of Christians because Muslims taxed them less than the Orthodox church
By 640’s- Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Alexandria taken
Muslim naval supremacy
N. Africa, Mediterranean Islands, S. Italy
Muslim invaders reduced strength of Byzantine Empire

16. Umayyad Imperium Mecca= holy city of Islam
Damascus= Umayyad political center
Arab conquest state
Only Muslim Arabs were first class citizens
Lower taxes
Imperial administration and army
Received share of riches from conquests
Keep from assimilating

17. Umayyad Imperium
People could convert to Islam, but received little, if no rewards for doing so
This is why there weren’t many Muslim converts during the Umayyad era
Denounced adultery, encouraged marriage
Men allowed to marry up to four wives
Muhammad’s teachings preached equality among the sexes

18. Umayyad Decline and Fall
Many Muslims, with new riches, grew addicted to fancy living.
In Merv (eastern Iran), over 50,000 people had settled to live and identified themselves with the culture.
Umayyad palace officials tried to place new troops in Merv and this sparked a revolution.
The Abbasid army openly challenged the Umayyad army. Many Muslim converts supported the Abbasid army.
Battle of the River Zab- Abbasid victory

19. Abbasid Era
After the Abbasids replaced the Umayyads, the Abbasids supported Sunni Islam more and more.
Abbasids eliminated Umayyads
Suppressed Umayyad allies
Abbasids built new capital in Baghdad, Iraq
Increasing power of wazir, or chief administrator
Head of caliph’s inner councils
Royal executioner
Built administrative infrastructure

21. Islamic Conversion Full integration of converts
Efforts to convert new people to the faith
No longer the practice of dividing riches claimed in conquest
No distinction between new converts and those who were raised in the faith
Most conversions were peaceful
Converts enjoyed benefits to becoming Muslim

22. Commercial Boom
Abbasids used dhows, or sailing vessels, with triangular sails to carry goods for trade.
Muslims often teamed up with Christians and Jews to do joint trips.
Different Sabbaths= trading all week
Profit from trade was reinvested in new commercial enterprise.
Increase in handicraft production.

23. Commercial Boom
Artisans= poorly paid, owned own tools, highly valued for skills
Created glassware, jewelry, furniture, carpets
Guild-like organizations to negotiate wages
Unskilled labor left to slaves
Ayan, wealthy elite in the countryside, created very large estates.

24. Islamic Learning Art focused on great mosques
Learning focused on science and math
Much of the old learning that had been lost (Greek medicine, algebra, geometry, anatomy, ect.) were saved, recopied and distributed throughout the empire.
Writings from Aristotle, Hippocrates, Ptolemy and Euclid were saved.