1. The Rise of Islam

2. Arabia Prior to Muhammad Crossroads of three continents Geography-desert with little water People settled near an oasis town or near the coast Bedouins-nomads who migrated across Arabia Coastal towns such as Mecca were popular for trade. Several different tribes with different religions in Arabia People would worship at the Ka’aba, a shrine.

3. Muhammad (570-632 C.E) Born into powerful Meccan family Trader and merchant At age 40, Muhammad meditated outside Mecca He saw an angel named Gabriel. Gabriel gave him messages from God, or Allah. Islam- “Submission to the will of God.” Muslims- “One who has submitted.”

4. Muhammad Spreads Islam He preached in Mecca in 613 He met hostility from Meccan leaders He and his followers migrated (Hijrah) to Yathrib, later renamed Medina. In 630, he returned to Mecca with 10,000 followers He converted most in Mecca to Islam.

5. The Religion of Islam The Five Pillars of Islam: ◦Faith (Claim Allah) ◦Prayer (5X a Day) ◦Alms (Giving to Poor) ◦Fasting (During Ramadan) ◦Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca Qur’an-holy book of Islam (written in Arabic) Shari’a-Islamic body of law.

6. Islam Spreads After Muhammad Muhammad did not leave instructions for who was to take over Islam. After he died in 632, the umma chose his close friend Abu-Bakr as caliph, or successor. He enabled the word jihad, or struggle, to keep Islam afloat. The Rightly Guided Caliphs-the first four successors of Islam after Muhammad. ◦(Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) ◦By 750 C.E, Islam had spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and into Spain; some 6,000 miles.

7. Islam Splits Ali was assassinated in 661. A family known as the Umayyads took power over Islam. Leadership issues Moved the capital from Mecca Ruled as non-Muslims Islam split into two branches: ◦Sunni-followers of Muhammad’s example; accepted the Umayyads ◦Shi’a-leader must be descended from Muhammad; did not accept Umayyads.

8. The Abbasid Empire (750-1258 C.E) Umayyad Empire fell to rebels in 750 C.E. The Abbasids took control Moved capital to new city in Iraq called Baghdad Increased trade along land and sea Developed banks and taxed goods. Created a bureaucracy with regional governors to control the empire.

9. Legacy of the Islamic Empire Advancements in Science and Math (algebra)-Al- Khwarizmi Calligraphy-art of beautiful hand writing Medical Encyclopedia Ibn Battuta-recorded his travels around the world Ibn Sina-philosopher and considered the “father of medicine.” Architecture-built up cities (Jerusalem, Baghdad, Damascus)