The Rise of Islam

Geography Most people on the Arab peninsula lived as nomads because the soil was not farmable. There are oases in which there is enough fertile soil and water to support cities. By the 600s, trade routes connect the peninsula to Asia and Africa. Pilgrims went to Mecca in western Arabia, the home of a shrine called the Ka’aba.

Muhammad Muhammad was born into a powerful Meccan family. By the age of 25, he became a trader and business manager for Khadijah, a wealthy businesswoman, who he later married. He became more spiritual and around the age of 40, he heard a voice speaking to him in a cave. The voice is believed to be the angel, Gabriel, who told him to proclaim the words of Allah. Muhammad is believed to be the last of the prophets. His religion becomes known as Islam and its followers are called Muslims.

The Hijrah Muhammad began preaching in Mecca by 613 The people of Mecca thought a new religion would take away from the traditional gods and they would lose the pilgrims, so they start to attack Muhammad and his followers. In 622, Muhammad and his followers leave Mecca for Yathrib (now known as Medina). This becomes known as the Hijrah. Muhammad gains many followers because of his leadership skills, and he is accepted as a political and religious leader.

5 Pillars Faith: to become a Muslim, a person must profess the statement of faith “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Prayer: pray five times a day facing Mecca Alms: giving to the less fortunate Fasting: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset to remind themselves that their spiritual needs are greater than their physical needs Pilgrimage: must complete the hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca)

Basic Beliefs of Islam Muslims cannot eat pork or drink alcohol. There is no central authority like a priesthood, but they do use the Qur’an as a source of authority. The Sunna is Muhammad’s example for proper living. Shari’a is the body of law based on the Qur’an to regulate Muslim life.

Rightly Guided Caliphs After Muhammad’s death in 632, he is succeeded by four “rightly guided” caliphs who he knew in his lifetime. By 750, the Muslim Empire stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River. The last two caliphs are assassinated allowing the Umayyad family to take over the empire.

Internal Conflict Shi’a: Muslims who believe the caliph should be a descendant of Muhammad and resist the Umayyads Sunni: Muslims that follow the example of Muhammad, but do not resist the Umayyads Rebel groups overthrow the Umayyads in 750, and the Abbasids take control of the empire. The Umayyads continue to control a caliphate in Spain.

The Empire Expands The Abbasids move the capital to Baghdad where they are able more easily control the empire and create a strong bureaucracy They also begin diplomatic relations with the empires in Europe. They did however fail to keep complete control and independent state sprang up within the empire. They create a trade system throughout the empire connecting it to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and include a banking system offering checks to merchants.