1. Ancient Arabia Reference pages 372-378
The Empty Quarter: The world’s largest continuous body of sand. Some parts have no rain for 10 years or more. It is located on the Arabian peninsula.

2. The Arabian Peninsula
Desert stretches over the Arabian peninsula. Water is found only at oases. Not all of Arabia is dry. In the southwest, enough rain falls to support plant life. To survive, Arabs formed into clans and tribes who were loyal to one another. The tribes head was called a sheikh.

3. The Middle East Egypt- J Oman- L Yemen- N Persian Gulf- D Iran- A
Saudi Arabia- F
Arabian Sea- Q
Syria- R
Israel- E
Turkey- H
Caspian Sea- G
Red Sea- K
Jordan- P
United Arab Emirates- M
Mediterranean Sea- I
Kuwait- B
Iraq - C

4. Who are the Bedouins? Desert herders
Traveled from oases to oases to water and graze their camels, goats, and sheep
Lived in tents
Ate dried fruits and nuts
Drank milk from their animals
Ate meat rarely – animals were much too valuable

5. Daily Life in Early Arabia

6. The City of Makkah (Mecca)
By about A.D. 500, Arabian merchants handled most trade between India and the Mediterranean Sea.
As their trade grew, Arab merchants found towns along the trade routes.
Makkah became the largest and the richest of them all.
It was a crossroads for merchants, and was an important religious site.
The holiest place in Arabia was in this city…

7. The Kaaba- a low square building surrounded by statues of gods and goddesses.

8. A Great Stone from Heaven…
Located inside of the Kaaba
Pilgrims, people who travel to a holy place, flocked to Makkah.
Early Arabians were polytheistic.
The most important god was Allah, the creator.

9. Muhammad: Islam’s Prophet
The prophet Muhammad brought the message of Islam to the people of Arabia after meditating in the hills..
Islam means “surrendering to the will of Allah.”
Allah is the Arabic word for “God.”
Muhammad preached that all people are equal and that the rich should share their goods. This message was well received in Makkah, where most people lived humbly.

10. The city of Makkah Birthplace of Muhammad
Muhammad married a wealthy widow and merchant, Khadija.
This marriage gave Muhammad wealth and respect in the busy city of Makkah.
Makkah attracted many merchants because it was on the main trading route.
This city also attracted visitors because of the Kaaba, Makkah’s temple.

11. Opposition to Islam (pg. 375)
1. Who do you think opposed Muhammad’s message and why?
Why did Muhammad and his followers leave Makkah in A.D. 622?
Why is the year A.D. 622 significant to Muslims?
What does the city Madinah mean?
Describe Muhammad’s government.

12. Islam’s Teachings
The Quran provided guidelines for Muslims’ lives and the governments of Muslim states.

13. The Five Pillars
1. Muslims must declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Muslims must pray five times per day facing toward the holy city of Makkah/Mecca.
3. Muslims must give to the poor.
4. Muslims must not eat from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Muslims must visit Makkah/Mecca once in their life.

14. Islam
Judaism
All Three
Christianity

15. ISLAM
Judiasm
Christianity