Islam Expands Mr. Snell

Setting the Stage  Muhammad died in 632 C.E.  Crisis among the community  Muslims were inspired and believed they had a duty to carry on his word.

Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam  Muhammad did not select a successor.  Ancient Tribal Custom was used.  Muslim community elected Abu-Bakr.  First Caliph – title meaning “successor” or “deputy”

“Rightly Guided” Caliphs  Abu Bakr + next 3 Caliphs (Umar, Uthman, Ali) all knew Muhammad.  Used Muhammad’s actions and Qur’ans as guides to leadership.  Abu Bakr promised to continue same rule as Muhahmmad  Post-death: abandon Islam, refusal to pay tax, false prophets  Abu Bakr invokes Jihad – “striving” against the inner struggle vs evil.  Also in used in the Qur’an to mean an armed struggled against unbelievers.

Cont.  Abu Bakr died in 634  Muslim state controlled all of Arabia.  2 nd Caliph Umar – Muslim armies conquered Syria and Lower Egypt.  Uthman & Ali – Extended Muslim territory.  By 750 the empire stretched 6,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River.

Reasons for Success  Four “rightly guided” caliphs spread Islam.  Muhammad had a desire to control the North.  Muslims fought to defend Islam and were willing to struggle to extend it.  Well disciplined army/expert commanders.  Fought weak armies.

Treatment of Conquered Peoples  Qur’an forbade forced conversion  Muslims allow Jews and Christians to follow their own religion.  Christians and Jews paid poll tax to escape duties of military service.  Not allowed to spread religion.

Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis  Difficulty maintaining unified rule.  656 – Uthman was murdered – civil war.  Ali, Muhammad’s cousin & son in law was the natural successor.  Challenged…assassinated in 661.

The Umayyads  Moved Muslim capital to Damascus.  Abandoned way of the previous caliphs.  Surrounded themselves with wealth.  Divided Muslim community.  For peace, most Muslims accepted their rule.

The Shi’a  A minority group resisted the Umayyads.  Shi’a – the party of “Ali”  Members are Shi’ites (shee-ights)

Sunni  Those who did not outwardly resist the rule of the Umayyads.  Sunni – followers of Muhammad’s example.

Sufi  Sufi – rejected the luxurious life of the Umayyads.  Pursued a life of poverty and devotion to the spiritual path.

Umayyad Downfall  Vigorous religious and political opposition.  Rebel groups overthrew the Umayyads in the year 750.  The most powerful of those groups, the Abbasids took control of the empire.

Control Extends over Three Continents  Rise to power in 750.  Ruthlessly murdered all remaining Umayyads.  Abd al-Rahman escapes to Spain.  Sets up Umayyad caliphate.  The Berbers in Spain help form al-Andalus, an extraordinary Muslim state.

Abbasids Consolidate power  Move capital to Baghdad, Iraq in 762.  More access to trade goods, gold, information.  Develop a strong bureaucracy.  Bureaucracy - Non-elected officials who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution.  Treasury kept track of money flow.  Special dept. managed army business.  Diplomats used in courts for imperial business.  Abbasids taxed land, imports/exports, and non- Muslim’s wealth.

Rival Groups Divide Muslim Lands  Abbasid Caliphate lasts from 750 – 1258 C.E.  Increase authority by consulting religious scholars.  Fail in keeping political control over large territory.  Independent Muslims states sprang up.  Fatimid Caliphate – Formed by Shi’a Muslims who claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima.

Muslim Trade Network  Sea Network - Use of Mediterranean Sea & Indian Ocean  Land Network – Silk Roads – China/India/Europe/Africa  Arabic – language of Muslims  Banks were established in cities.  Sakks – bank offered letters of credit. “checks”  Cordoba became the dazzling center of Muslim culture.

Arabic