The Arabian Peninsula A crossroads of three continents Africa, Europe, Asia Agriculture only in the south and near modern Oman Desert and Town Life Nomads-Bedouins Kinship-Clans-Tribes (fragmented…) Warlike behavior Protection of scarce resources

Crossroads of Trade and Ideas Oases Fertile Areas Farming communities Market towns Trade Mecca Nomad > sedentary Traits from nomadic culture transfer to urban setting Cultural diffusion Religions polytheisim + Zoroastrianism + Judaism + Christianity

Muhammad Born in ~570ad to a merchant family Orphaned Caravan manager Religious, political, & military leader

The Life of Muhammad Troubled by inequality and dishonesty Meditation and revelation Mecca & Umayyad resistance Medina; City of the Prophet 622ad Return to Mecca 630ad Muhammad dies 632ad No separate political and religious authority Government is religion

The Teachings “Islam” “Muslim” Monotheism A Prophet only The Quran also; Qu’ran, Koran The 5 Pillars “Jihad” Shari ah Law “People of the Book”

Caliph- “Successor to the Prophet” Abu Bakr Chosen by the Umma 632-634ad Umar I Chosen by the Umma 634-644ad Uthman Chosen by the Umma 644-656ad Ali Blood relative of the Prophet Assassinated 656-661ad The split of Islam “SUNNI” Shiat Ali (Shiite) Caliph Should The “party of Ali” Be chosen by the the caliph should Islamic community be a blood relative

Creation of an Arab Empire The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750ad) Founded by Muawiya (Ali’s successor) Succession hereditary Capital moved to Damascus Conquest extended from Christian Spain to Afghanistan Battle of Tours- 732ad Non-Arabs excluded from “Umma” Mawali rebellion

The Abbasids (750-1258ad) Claimed descendants of M’s uncle The “Golden Age” Capital to Baghdad & Urban expansion Change in role of Women Too large to control Rebellions, Slave revolts, peasant uprisings ~800-ish a.d. areas in Africa & Asia break away Abbasids control only Middle East Seljuk Turks Hired as Abbasid auxiliary Army Eventually Seljuk leaders more powerful “Sultan” Tughril-takes over Baghdad Turks fall to Mongols 1258ad

Prosperity in the Islamic World Abbasids- based on extensive trade- Restoration of Afro-Eurasian trade networks Oceanic Over-land Cities Economic, cultural and administrative centers “Bazaar” Large open-air market(like Greek “Agora”) Even had municipal health inspectors

Islamic Society The Eyes of Allah Women and Slaves Preservation of Knowledge Madrasas Science Literature Quran The Arabian Nights (Khayyam) Introduction to History (Ibn Khaldun) Art & Architecture No Human depiction Exceptions