1. How did Islam spread so quickly?
Grade 7 Assessed task
Task adapted from worksheet by RJ Tarr:
Background:

2. The death of Mohammed 632 AD, Mohammed dies
The Caliphs (this simply means ‘successor’) carried on spreading Islam
First 4 Caliphs had known Mohammed personally!
1st Caliph = Abu Bakr: completed conquest of arabia
2nd Caliph = Umar: leads attacks on Persian Empire

3. Growth: from nothing to an empire stretching 1000’s of miles in 100 years!

4. So how did it do it?
Military Factors – to do with how they fought and were led
Religious Factors – to do with the religion of Islam
Social Factors – to do with how people lived and how they treated others

5. 1. Their enemies were weak
The Persian and Byzantium Empires had been fighting against each other for 200 years!

6. 2. Nomads Some of the Muslims were Nomads.
They didn’t have a set home – they traveled from place to place
Used to long travel and fighting in the desert
Didn’t need a ‘HQ’ – they could simply make a base wherever they were!

7. 3. Holy War Jihad means ‘Holy War’
Soldiers strongly believed they were fighting for their religion
Therefore if they died then they would go to heaven
This made Muslim soldiers very brave and determined.
Persian and Byzantium soldiers tended to either be slaves or hired to fight – these aren’t as determined and prepared to die for their Empire!

8. 4. United armies
Soldiers were united by a common set of beliefs: Islam
They prayed together and were fighting for the same purpose
A united ‘team’ is always more effective!

9. 5. Tolerance
At the time it was usual for conquering armies to abuse the local population
In most cases the Muslim forces were remarkably tolerant for the time.
Islam acknowledges and respects key figures in the Jewish and Christian faiths (e.g. Abraham and Jesus) and people were allowed to keep their own religion
As a result many areas simply surrendered without a fight as people felt the new Muslim rulers would be better than the ones they had anyway!

10. Tasks
Draw a ‘Venn diagram’ and use it to categorize the reasons for the rapid spread of Islam.
Write your short (maximum 200 words) answer to the question: ‘How did Islam spread so rapidly?’

11. Religious Social Military
relating to human society and its members, how people live together
to do with weapons and war, fighting, how they fight, leadership in battle
Military

12. Assessment: Criteria B
How well do you understand the reasons for CHANGE
The reasons for the Arab success need to be logically categorized
Your 200 word maximum answer needs to show you understand the main reasons and show how they are LINKED together