Quarter 4–Week 2-3: Islam and Charlamagne Universal Theme Six: The Preservation of God's People (300-1000 AD). Week 2’s lessons cover the legend of King Arthur and the rise of Islam. These phenomena have had volumes written on them and could be studied for many weeks. Week 3 focuses upon Charlemagne (742-814), who is the towering figure of this period in history. He was King of the Franks, and came into possession of most of Western Europe through conquests and marital alliances. Through his pledge to protect the pope and defend Christendom from armed attacks, he was crowned Emperor of the Romans.
Key Dates/Events for the Rise of Islam c. 570 : The birth of Muhammad, a member of one of the three Quraysh clans of Mecca, the Banu Hashim, “one of the poorer and more resentful clans.” His business skill put him in the upper class, marrying the widow Khadija. c. 585: The Sacrilegious War, which added to animosity toward the Quraysh tribe. 590 : The year of the catastrophic flood caused by the break of the Marib dam, an event comparable in Islam to the Noahic Flood. 610: Muhammad has his first ‘revelations,’ allegedly from the angel Gabriel, the fundamentals of Islam that would later be written in the Quran, sharing the visions with only close friends like his wife, cousin Ali, and close friend Abu Bakr. 613: Muhammad begins teaching publically and gains both followers and enemies. Many flee Mecca—not Muhammad! Also — a new revelation: God permits fighting back!
Sept. 24, 622: The Hijra, the date of Muhammad’s “flight’ from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution, regarded as the beginning of the Muslim era (Hirja = Muslim era!). March 17, 624: With new revelation legitimizing sustained fighting against potential enemies, the umma (committed followers), under Muhammad, win the first battle of Islam, Battle at the Wells of Badr, against the Meccan Quraysh. 627: With continuing battles against Mecca, the Muslims win the Battle of the Trench, eliminating Jewish opposition in Medina, and totally dominate the city. 630: Muhammad, with a huge army, bloodlessly subdues Mecca—now the center of Islam. 632: Muhammad dies and is succeeded by his friend Abu Bakr who, within a year, conquers all of Arabia, and begins successful attacks against Byzantium and Persia. 634: Abu Bakr is succeeded by Umar who captures Jerusalem in 637, Egypt (640) and Alexandria (642) fall, and Umar pushes the Persians all the way to India!
644-656: Uthman, an ‘old companion of Muhammad, succeeds Umar, further expands the empire across N. Africa and closer to Constantinople, adding a navy from the conquest of Alexandria, but is too authoritarian to hold on to power and was assasinated. 656-661: Ali (ibn Abu Talib), Muhammed’s son-in-law finally becomes caliph, but his rule is marked by division and civil war, known as the Fitna. He was eventually assasinated. 661-680: Muawiyah, a former general, becomes the fifth caliph after Muhammed. The Islamic empire is being torn apart.
Basic Beliefs of Islam (Bauer) Belief in the One Creator—Allah. Belief that Muhammad is his inspired prophet. Concern to help the poor. Commitment to a life of justice and purity. Combination of religious belief and civil/political order. Legitimate use of force to defend faith and conquer enemies.
Charlemagne (c.742-814) The Iron Crown of the Lombards —One of the Oldest Insignias of Christendom
Charlemagne Crowned Imperator et Augustus (Emperor of Rome—the Holy Roman Empire) by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, 800 A.D.
Charlemagne (c.742-814), also known as Karl and Charles the Great, was a medieval emperor who ruled much of Western Europe from 768 to 814. In 771, Charlemagne became king of the Franks, a Germanic tribe in present-day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and western Germany. He embarked on a mission to unite all Germanic peoples into one kingdom, and convert his subjects to Christianity. A skilled military strategist, he spent much of his reign engaged in warfare in order to accomplish his goals. In 800, Pope Leo III (750-816) crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Romans. In this role, he encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual revival in Europe. When he died in 814, Charlemagne’s empire encompassed much of Western Europe, and he had also ensured the survival of Christianity in the West. Today, Charlemagne is referred to by some as the father of Europe.