1. Worlds of Islam
Source

2. Europe 1000 European Christian Kingdom
Under Muslim Rule – 1492 treaty Granada
West – Roman elements + German influence+ Christianity – Christian European civilization
East – Byzantine Empire – Roman influence – Consider themselves Romans
A few decades after Muhammad died – ME united and expanded in Spain N Africa and Persia
Political unification = +trade and cultural spreads
Byzantine Empire

3. What did Arabs believe before Muhammad?
Mecca in Saudi Arabia
Source
Byzantine
Mix – Christianity, Judaism Zoroastrianism
Persia
Small Arab Kingdoms – benefit from location near trade routes,
Quraysh
Source
Quraysh -prominent tribe in Mecca – Muhammad’s tribe
Arabia - Sandwiched between Byzantine and Sassanid (Perisan)
Kaaba -  first house that was built for humanity to worship Allah. (Abraham and Ishmael)
Black stone in eastern corner – fell from heaven
Kaaba – houses 360 different deities
Bedouins – nomadic, ancestor veneration, nature spirits, polytheistic

4. Symbol of Islam
The crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of the faith of Islam.
The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years.
most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon, and sky gods.

5. “Peace” (Salam) and “Submission” (salaama) “Submission to God”
Birth of Islam
From: the root “s-l-m”
“Peace” (Salam) and “Submission” (salaama) “Submission to God”
Life of Muhammad–
Source
570– Most Arabs believe Allah is the top god
a trader of Mecca
became a religious, political, and military leader.
Muslims view him not as the founder of a new religion, but rather as the preacher of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others.
In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last and the greatest in a series of prophets—as the man closest to perfection, the possessor of all virtues.
In 610, at age 40, Muhammad started receiving revelations from God. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur'an, was memorized and recorded by his companions.
610 –Muhammad’s first revelation
Allah – is the god of Abraham – same as Jewish and Christian god
First revelation-
God’s messenger – needs to bring word of God to Arabs in their own language
wealth and commercialism (in Mecca) had undermined social justice
God demands social justice
Become scriptures in Quaran
Last prophet
Five Pillars of Islam
Divergence from Judaism and Christianity of the time
One true god is Allah
Holy Trinity is wrong
Not so much a new religion – but a return to the religion of Abraham
Jesus was just another prophet
hijra
Yathrib
622 –Muhammad goes to Medina
630 – Mecca Surrenders
632 – Muhammad dies

6. Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
Holy Cities
Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem
Muhammad was born in Mecca and home of the Kaaba
Muhammad started Islam in Medina (and died there)
Muhammad “rose” to heaven from Jerusalem

7. The Al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem
The Kaaba, in Mecca Saudi Arabia, is the center of Islam. Muslims from all over the world gather there to pray in unity.
The Al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem
Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Medina, Saudi Arabia, is the site of Muhammad's tomb.

8. the Qur’an? The Islamic Holy book.
Muslims believe it is the direct word of Allah (God).
The word of God was revealed to the prophet Mohammed through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).

9. What are the Basic Belief of Islam?
Monotheism
Prophets
Angels
Revelation
Resurrection
Judgment
Predetermination
Five Pillars

10. What are the 5 Pillars of Islam?
Read .pdf handout “ISLAM” in classworks for more info
What did your book say about a SIXTH Pillar and what is it?
jihad

11. Pillars of Islam

12. Question
1. How are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity connected or related or similar? And, yet, how are they separate or different?

13. Consolidation Why was Islam so successful at its beginning? Muhammad
Independence from Judaism
Muhammad
Centralized power to Muhammad
Marriage alliances
Religious appeal
Consolidate power and lead to rise of Islam
Religious appeal – return to old tribal values
Small kinship tribes lack unifying agent
Community based on beliefs
Economic - wealth
Traders were only allowed to use tents to sell their merchandise – how does this level the playing field?
Not to use permanent buildings
High interest loans were outlawed
Social Responsibility – is stressed – take care of the poor/ needy – umma community
Military skill of leader
supertribe
Material wealth promises
umma
Decrease in conflict
Traders use of tents

14. Arabia and Surrounding Areas Before and During the Time of Muhammad

15. Arab Expansion
Source
Reason for expansion seeking control of trade routes and arable land
Jihad
Righteous government to the conquered is God’s will
ca. 750 – seen as a universal religion and seek out converts
Impact on the conquered
People of the book
Ca. 750 can convert to Islam
Jizya tax for exemption from military service
Allowed to continue religion
Arab armies do not mingle in conquered towns – in garrisons separated – less violence, impact
Local rulers incorporated into new Empire
Huge cultural impact – conversions to Islam
Role of conversion
Universal religion
Encourages continued unification
Source

16. Why were the Arabs so successful?
Byzantine and Persian weakness
Source
Battle of Talas River stops Chinese western expansion
Weakened by their constant wars and internal rebellions (decades of fighting eachother)
Don’t consider Arabs a serious threat
Fall of Spain--- unsure?
Battle of Talas
Chinese – mercenary army – abandons them and started attacking the Chinese
Unclear about numbers
Chinese – Arabs had 200,000 and they had 30,000
Arabs – Chinese had 100,000
Battle of Talas River
Source

17. Reasons for Conversion
Commonalities in religion
Success of Muslims challenges other gods
Avoiding jizya
Merchants drawn to it – Muhammad was a merchant
Social mobility
% in Persia convert but keep local language
Source

18. Islam after Muhammad:1 Film and questions Sunni Shia First 4 Caliphs
Who should be the political leader of umma?
Film and questions
1st caliph Abu Bakr
Ulama Muslim legal scholars
16th century C.E.
Source
First 4 Caliphs
Sunni
1st four Caliphs (rightly guided caliphs) – companions of Muhammad
Selected by elders of Medina
Rebellions to leaders and “new prophets” were forcibly subdued – Abu Bakr
3rd and 4th caliphs were assasinated
Shia – caliphs should be blood relations of Muhammad
Sunni – elders choose caliph
Film – The Story of Islam
Chapter 13 and 14
Theological conflict?
656 civil war
Shia
Imams religious leader… religious authority beyond caliph
Source

19. Who are Shia and Sunni? What are the differences between them and the cause of the split?
Sunni Muslims: approximately 90%
Shia Muslim: approximately 10%
Someone Elected – most worthy
Family line of Rulers

20. Islam after Muhammad: 2 Capital: Damascus Umayyad 661-750
Caliphs become absolute monarchs
Growing tensions
Capital: Damascus
Source
Leaders become hereditary
Professional standing army
Taxation
Complicated administrative procedures – bureaucracy
Standard coinage
Aristocracy Arab military leaders
Tensions
Shia – see them as illegitimate rulers
Non Arabs – feel lower class- marginalized
Protest luxury of ruling class
Fancy ceremonies and rituals
Succession disputes
Rise of aristocracy
Umayyad
Source
Abd-ar-Rahman III Caliph of Cordoba prince of the Ummayad

21. Islam after Muhammad: 3 “Golden Age” Capital: Baghdad Abbasid
No longer under the authority of a single caliph
“Golden Age”
By 900 weakening allows regional dynasties
5. Which one of the many Arab advances described on p stand out, surprise, or make an impression on you? Identify it, explain why you chose it or why it stood out to you, and how is it connected to another part of the world/continent (i.e. East Asia, Africa, or Europe)?
Capital: Baghdad
Sultanates
Baghdad, which soon became a great cultural center.
“Golden Age.”
rise of Sufism (an Islamic mystic tradition)
completion of the collections of Hadith (which further clarified Qur’anic teaching) – interpret laws
Shia and Sunni have different Hadith collections
Sharia – rulers for correct behavior – how to be a good Muslim ---- What does it mean to submit to Allah? –
Also from Sunnah – life of Muhammad
After 900, the caliphate showed signs of fracturing, which allowed for the emergence of regional Muslim dynasties.
In 973, the cseized control of Abbasid Egypt and established a new capital at al-Qahirah (Cairo).
To the northeast, the Seljuk Turks had migrated into Persia by 1055.
Hadith collections
Abbasid
Mongols come in 1258
Source

22. Sufi
Mystic Islam: the Sufi sect of Islam. Pictured are the Whirling Dervishes.

23. What is Sikhism?
Short video

24. Expansion of Islam 7th & 8th centuries
What states and Empires did the Muslims overrun?
Which areas of the Arab Empire are modern Muslim states today?
What parts of Europe did the Muslims overrun? If these regions are not Muslim today, what o you think happened?
Locate Damascus and Mecca, the first Muslim capitals. What advantages and disadvantages did these location present when running an empire?
Locate Karbala and Ctesiphon. Between the two cities the Arabs built Bagdad. Why build a capital here? To what cultural influences would this location be exposed?
Look at the borders of the Arab Empire. What geographic areas would have contact with non-Muslims?
Complete the map activity in classworks

25. 6. What distinguished the first centuries of Islamic history from the early history of Christianity and Buddhism? What similarities and differences characterized their religious outlooks?