The Spread and Impact of Islam Chapter 9, Section 2: The Arab Empire and the Caliphates

Introduction Please read “The Life of Muhammad” on pages 175 to 176 in the textbook and answer the following: In 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca with 10,000 men. What was his status at this important time? Brainstorming: Muhammad died two years after returning to Mecca. What might have happened in the Arab world after his death? hill.com/media/repository/protected_content/COMPOUND/ /86/41/WHG_TC_C09_L2_pj01/network_frame.html?mghCourseID=SXPHZCBJ42S19C7VB8R3 49B5VM

Spread of Islam ( ) Byzantine Empire (last remnants of the Roman Empire)  Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula. Where did Islam spread? hill.com/media/repository/protected_content/COMPOUND/ /79/70/WHG_SC_C09_L2_m01/index.html?mghCourse ID=SXPHZCBJ42S19C7VB8R349B5VM

Important Questions: 1.What was the concern following Muhammad’s death? Muhammad had no son or successor, so who should lead after Muhammad? 2.What is a caliph? successor to Muhammad. Religious and political leader of Islam 3.Explain what caused the split of Islam into two major groups. What groups formed? What are their beliefs in regards to the caliph? Conflicts between Arab and Non-Arab regions of the Umayyad dynasty. Shia = believe only descendants of Ali are the true rulers of Islam; Sunni = any important Muslim figure can be elected as caliph 4.What was so impactful about the decline of the Abbasid dynasty on the Empire? Muslim Empire now became politically divided 5.What connection did the Seljuk Turks have with the Abbasid dynasty? Seljuk Turks essentially took military and political control over the Abbasid dynasty and Arab Empire but let the Caliph keep control over the religious authority (basically kept the caliph has a “figure head” but nothing more)

Pre-Umayyad caliphs ( ) Umayyad dynasty ( ) Abbasid dynasty ( ) Seljuk Turks (establishing control during Abbasid dynasty) Important leaders Abu Bakr -Muhammad’s father in law Ali -Muhammad’s son- in-law Mu’awiyah – military general during previous dynasty. Governor of Syria. Chief rival of Ali Abbul al-Abbas – descendant of Muhammad’s uncle Harun al-Rashid – known for charity, and support of the arts; “golden age” Sultan Toghril Beg- “holder of power” for the Seljuk Turks Expansion / Losses of Territory They took control of the Byzantine province of Syria Conquered Egypt and other areas of Northern Africa, and later the entire Persian Empire Occupied Most of Spain Then, driven away from Spain after the Battle of Tours in Gaul Conquered southern and eastern Mediterranean parts of the old Roman Empire Rules of some of the provinces (Spain, Morocco, and Egypt) broke away and established independent dynasties In 1055, Sultan Beg conquered Baghdad Gradually moved into Iran and Armenia By the 11 th cent, took over the eastern portion of the Abbasid dynasty Major/signific ant events, political changes/prac tices, issues or problems Muslim leaders of new territories sometimes let local officials to continue to rule Established the caliphate Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their religions, but they had to pay special taxes Byzantine and Persian Muslims resented province administrators favoring Arab Muslims Financial troubles and the difficulty of ruling a huge empire complicated the caliphs’s rule Made the caliphate based on family lineage Islam split into two groups: Shia and Sunni All Muslims could hold civil and military office Tried to break down distinction between Arab and Non-Arab Muslims Baghad was almost destroyed during fighting over the succession of the caliphate Financial corruption and a shortage of qualified Arabs for key positions weakened the dynasty After their takeover of Baghdad, they let the Abbasid caliph keep religious authority But the Turks held the real military and political power Turks were hired as soldiers for the Islamic dynasty in Egypt Turks became the soldiers for the Abbasid caliphate