1. The Islamic Empire

2. Rightly Guided Caliphs
Caliph = Muslim Ruler
Caliphate = An area ruled by a Caliph
Muhammad died in 632, Islam had only spread to part of the Arabian Peninsula
Muhammad’s father-in-law becomes 1st caliph after Muhammad’s death (Abu Bakr)

4. Rightly Guided Caliphs
1st 4 caliphs were elected, followed the Qur’an and the example of Muhammad
Asked the people for advice and listened to their needs
Worked to spread Islam through the use of skilled warriors who they sent all through the Middle East and North Africa
They were very successful
Empire included Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa

6. Umayyad Dynasty The fourth caliph was murdered in 661
Split between Sunnis and Shi’as occurred at this time over leadership of the religion
New caliph moved the capital and made the position hereditary (the caliphs were no longer elected)
Reorganized the empire to include a postal system, an official language (Arabic), minted money, and encouraged the arts.
Continued to expand the empire to include Spain and parts of India

8. Islam Divides During this time the Muslims divided into two groups
Shi’ites (followed the guidance of the rightly guided caliphs)
Sunni (followed the hereditary line of caliphs)
War broke out, the Umayyad dynasty was defeated in 750 AD (after about 100 years of rule).
The whole empire broke up into smaller kingdoms ruled by dynasties

9. The Abbasids Ruled from 750-1258 Ruled during the Golden Age of Islam
Did not conquer new lands, but focused on trade to increase wealth
Moved capital to Baghdad
Center of art, science, and learning
The empire prospered
Became too large for one caliph to rule and so it broke up into independent kingdoms.

10. Success of Islam
Decline of the Byzantine empire left that area of the world vulnerable to attack and the introduction of new ideas
Highly skilled armies, experts on horseback
Fought under the banner of religion
Islam taught equality and a direct relationship with God
Very tolerant of other’s religions
Allowed conquered people to practice their own beliefs
Believed the Torah and Bible to be sacred books