1. Islam and the Islamic World

2. Muhammad’s Religion (570-632)  Muhammad  Was an orphan  He married a wealthy widow  Became a social activist  Opposed materialism in Meccan Society  At 40 had revelations was visited by the angel Gabriel  Angel brought word of God  Collected in a sacred book Qur'an (Reciting)  A call to Arabs to submit to God’s will as revealed through the “prophet”  This Religion is called Islam and its followers are called Muslims  Both indicate submission and surrender  His message was not new but final and definitive  He was the last of the prophets that God would send  A monotheistic and Theo- centric religion (like Judaism)

3. Continued…  622 AD –Muhammad and followers made to flee Mecca  After turning it into a trade center they fled to Medina  Marks the beginning of the Islamic migration  624 AD – His army is powerful enough to persuade Mecca to submit to his authority  Cleansed the Kaaba of idols and made it an Islamic shrine.

4. Rules 1. Be honest and modest in dealings and behavior 2. Be unquestionably loyal to the Islamic Community 3. Abstain from pork and alcohol 4. Pray facing Mecca five times a day 5. Contribute to support the poor and needy 6. Fast during daylight hours for one month each year 7. Make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba at least once in your life

5. Muslim Marriages Muslim men could have four wives *Treat them all justly and equally *Could have as many concubines as they wished *Could divorce with declaration of intent *Wife could also initiate but procedure more involved *Only a husband could see her face

6. Islamic Diversity  Successful in unifying Arab tribes  Disputes on who was going to succeed in Muhammad’s authority  Disputes on doctrinal issues (was it only for Arabs?)  Kharijutes: Ali leader wanted to exclude all but rigorous and pure  Was assassinated by a member  Shi `a: “Partisans of Ali” was more influential  A true Imam (ruler) should make decisions  Sunnis: Followers of Sunna (tradition)  Put loyalty first  Reject exclusionism and purism of the Kharijutes and Shi`a.

7. Islamic Empires  Muhammad’s 1st three successors  Caliphs: Abu Bakr (632-634)  Umar (634-644)  Uthaman (644-656)  Built a strong empire stretching from Spain to India  750 – Capitol moved from Mecca to Damascus in a civil war  Established Baghdad as a major Islamic city  Arabs gained Christian converts in N. Africa and Spain.  Charles Martel—Ruler of the Franks  Defeated a Arab raiding party at Portieres  This ended Arab attempts to enter Europe by way of Spain  Leo III ---Kept Muslims out of Eastern Europe at Constantinople  Muslim Expansion again threatened when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks Europe.

8. Western Debt to Islamic Culture  Christians were hostile to Muslims  But learned about many technologies from them  Made philosophy and science as well as works of Greeks available to West, in Latin translation.  Created manuals for childbirth and child care that many western mid-wives used  Multilingual Jewish scholars were able to create bridges

9. Please Answer and Explain… 1. Do you think people can learn from each other when they are at war because of religion? 2. Are the growth of trade and the growth of towns dependant upon one another? 3. Do the shifts of political power always take place when new nations develop?