1. The Expansive Realm of Islam

2. Islam Had visions, angel appeared
Muhammad born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) ~570 CE
Had visions, angel appeared
Began to spread message about the one true god
Unlike Jesus (who Christians believe was God's son) Muhammad was a mortal, albeit with extraordinary qualities
He preached a strong social justice message about equality and poverty
Found followers in Mecca

3. Islam
Muslims believe that God had previously revealed Himself to the earlier prophets of the Jews and Christians
Muslims therefore accept the teachings of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels
Use their own text, the Koran (or Qur’an)
Believe that Islam is the perfection of the religion
Caliphs – leaders of the Muslim community
Considered to be the religions successors of Muhammad

6. The Quran Record of revelations received during visions
Committed to writing ca. 650 C.E. (Muhammad dies 632 C.E.)
Islam appealed to women
Equal in eyes of God
Could keep inheritance
No female infanticide

7. Conflict at Mecca
Muhammad’s monotheistic teachings offensive to polytheistic pagans
Economic threat to existing religious industry
Denunciation of greed was affront to local aristocracy

8. The “Seal of the Prophets”
Muhammad – the final prophet
Accepted the authority of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
Accepted Hebrew scriptures and the Christian New Testament
Muhammad had been entrusted a more complete revelation, one that communicated Allah’s plan for the world

9. The Caliph No clear to successor to Muhammad Abu Bakr chosen to lead
First of four “Rightly Guided” Caliphs
Directly related to Muhammad
Extremely pious
Caliph – the political and spiritual leader of the Muslim world.

10. The Expansion of Islam, 632-733 C.E.

11. The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 C.E.)
From Meccan merchant class
Created hereditary monarchy
Capital at Damascus, Syria
Brought stability to the Islamic community
All cultures tolerated
Follow rules, pay taxes, do not revolt
Associated with Arab military aristocracy
Conquered Syria, Egypt, Persia, Byzantine, Spain

12. The Shia and Sunni Disagreements over selection of caliphs
Favoritism (Arab over non-Arab Muslims)
Shias – leader should be a descendant of Muhammad
Sunni – not necessary for caliph to be related
Umayyads were not descendants

13. The Abbasid Golden Age (750-1258 C.E.)
Abbasid clan overthrows Umayyad Dynasty
Moves capital to Baghdad (Iraq)
Trade, farming flourished = higher revenues
Culture and religion spread
Silk Road
Trans-Saharan trade routes
Mosques, hospitals, schools, orphanages built
Development of algebra
Latitude and longitude
Study of Greek philosophers
Geometry, calligraphy

14. Abbasid Decline Provincial governors assert regional independence
Resulted from local revolts
Stopped paying taxes to caliphs
Difficulty maintaining control over vast territory
Unrest from non-Muslim populations
Nomadic invasions (Turks)