1. The Spread of Islam Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus
Islam after Muhammad’s Death
Map: Spread of Islam
The Umayyad Dynasty
The Abbasid Dynasty
The End of Unity
Quick Facts: The End of Unity

2. The Spread of Islam Main Idea Reading Focus
After Muhammad’s death, Islam spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, shaping a major empire within 100 years. While the empire eventually broke into smaller parts, Islam continued to spread.
Reading Focus
How did Islam evolve after Muhammad’s death?
What were key events of the Umayyad dynasty?
What changes occurred under the Abbasid dynasty?
What led to the end of the caliphate’s unity?

3. Islam after Muhammad’s Death
The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Who would lead the group and keep it unified? The answer affected the faith’s spread and its future.
Muhammad had not named successor
No clear candidate
Abu Bakr, close companion, early convert, chosen leader, called caliph, “successor”
Muhammad’s Successors
Abu Bakr focused on bringing back bedouin tribes
Built strong Arab fighting forces to keep tribes under control
Reunified Arabia, led forces north
Priorities
Abu Bakr, successor Umar, expanded Muslim rule rapidly
637 early victory against Persian forces in Iraq
642 victory over Persian Empire complete
Expansion of Territory

4. More Expansion More Expansion Empire Internal Conflict and Division
After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west
Byantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem
639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule
Empire
Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire
Conquests continued under later caliphs
661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East
Internal Conflict and Division
Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph
Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali
644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad

5. Civil War
Umayyads had been Muhammad’s enemies, converted reluctantly, were unpopular
Uthman killed by rebels
Ali became caliph, but troubles had just begun
Civil war broke out between Ali’s forces, Umayyad; Ali killed, Umayyad retook control
Ali’s Troubles
Most Muslims accepted Umayyad caliph, Mu’awiya
Called Sunnis, “followers of the Sunna,” or “way of the Prophet”
Ali’s supporters refused to go along with Umayyads.
Became known as the Shia, “party of Ali”
Sunnis and Shias

6. Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants
The Shia and Imams
Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants
Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs
Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam
Imam means “leader”
For the shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.

7. Conflict Further Division
Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shia after deaths of Mu’awiya, Ali
Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim
Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid
Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq
Further Division
Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shia has remained bitter
Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis
Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals

9. What was the result of the succession conflict?
Find the Main Idea
What was the result of the succession conflict?
Answer(s): Two different Muslim groups emerged—the Sunni and the Shia

10. The Umayyad Dynasty Continued Expansion Military Conquests
Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim rule spread. Internal problems weakened the Umayyads, though, and led to their fall.
Umayyads strengthened rule after death of Husayn
Achievements:
Established Arabic as official language
Made coinage uniform throughout empire
Began first great work of Islamic architecture, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem
Continued Expansion
Armies conquered territory to borders of China, Indus River Valley, to east
Took northern Africa, most of Spain, to west
Conquests spread Muslim faith, while allowing religious freedom for People of the Book; some restrictions, taxes for Non-Muslims however
Military Conquests

11. Ruling the Empire End of the Umayyads Rebellion
Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size
Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered
Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality
Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition
Displeasure with Umayyads widespread
Shia continued opposition
Also unrest among conquered people, some Arab tribes
Umayyads weakened by discontent, time ripe for rebellion
End of the Umayyads
Abbasids, led by descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, united many Umayyad opponents by appearing to support their causes
Abbasids wiped out Umayyads in series of battles, late 740s
Caliphate entered Abbasid dynasty
Rebellion

12. What events brought about the end of the Umayyad dynasty?
Sequence
What events brought about the end of the Umayyad dynasty?
Answer(s): A family called the Abbasids took advantage of discontent with the Umayyads and established a new caliphate.

13. The Abbasid Dynasty Baghdad Persian Influence Government
Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor
Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq
Persian Influence
Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world
Abbasids adopted Persian style of government
Government
Rulers cut off from people
Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen
Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state
Change in Islam
Nature of Islam changed
Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures

14. A Changing Culture Importance of Trade Funding for Change
Islam spread through trade
Muslim traders journeyed from end to end of caliphate, exchanging goods and information
Exchange brought Islam to West Africa, Southeast Asia
Importance of Trade
Trade helped fund cultural achievement
Most prominent Abbasid caliph, Harun al-Rashid, helped bring culture to great heights, 786 to 809
Support of scholarship helped produce lasting achievements of Islamic arts, sciences
Funding for Change

15. How did the Abbasids differ from the Umayyads?
Contrast
How did the Abbasids differ from the Umayyads?
Answer(s): The Abbasids focused more on prosperity and cultural advancement than on empire expansion.

16. Challenges from Europe
The End of Unity
As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate.
European Christians weakened Muslim rule
Christian armies began to drive Muslims out of Spain, 1000s
European Christians began Crusades
Wanted to make Holy Land Christian, won at first
Muslims eventually retook Jerusalem
Challenges from Europe
969, serious threat, Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt
Claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah
From Egypt, controlled Mediterranean, Red Sea
Disrupted Abbasid trade
Fatamids soon richer, more powerful than Abbasids
Problems from Egypt

17. Seljuk Turks and Others
Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks
1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad
Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph
War Against Byzantine Empire
Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert
Seljuks would go on to create own empire
Mamluks and Mongols
1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria
1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished
Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia

19. What forces ended the unity of the caliphate?
Summarize
What forces ended the unity of the caliphate?
Answer(s): Abbasids lost political power when small independent states broke away.