Arabia and Persia Persian Empire embraced Islam after 1,000 years of history (Persia – Iran) In 539 BC the Persian King conquered the area including Mesopotamia and freed the Jews to return to Palestine. Muhammad was born in Mecca where Islam was founded Muhammad’s revelations created the Koran

Persia (1000BC-642 AD) Zoroastrianism was the first religion –View human morality –View world regarding struggle with good and evil Persians built up military power for survival 550 BC Cyrus the Great established Persian Empire –Did not loot or destroy lands –Merciful and respectful of customs

Rise of Islam ( AD) Arabic Tradition –Descendents of Abraham –Hebrew ancestry Arabs –Farmers and traders Muhammad –Born in Mecca, Arabia –Visited by Angel Gabriel –Preached Islam –Sought refuge with a Christian King –Launched successful military campaigns against non-Islamic followers

Rise of Islam cont. By 613, most of Arabia followed Islam By 640, most of Persia followed Islam From , the dynasty ruled from Baghdad By 1200, independent Muslim states began to break the dynasty apart

Persian Rebirth ( AD) Persian Dynasty gains power in the 9 th century Bukhara rivals Baghdad as the center of learning In 945, Persians took over Baghdad Arabic as a language of Islamic ritual Persian language and culture flourished The Turkish captured Baghdad in 1055 Persian followers moved the capital to Isfahan but remained under Turkish rule until 1502

Classes Nomads –Wanderers of the desert –Warriors –Made up core of Islamic armies Ruling Class –Religious Leaders became puppet rulers –Military Dictators and Aristocrats Lower Class –Lives improved under Islam –Higher taxes based on religion, conversion, and nonbelievers Merchants and Traders –Wealthy –Travelers

Classes cont. Learned Class –Scholars, scientists, writers, and artists –Valued members of society –House of Wisdom Academy and library Baghdad Scholars of various cultures and beliefs Islamic Mystics (dervishes) –Those seeking a close relationship with Allah –Some lived similar to European monks –Some were beggars and lived on charity Women –Islam granted them rights concerning marriage, family, and property –Equal in the eyes of Allah –Time lead to forced secluded lives

Modern Influence Banking –Money handlers established banks in Islamic Empire –Established letter of credit Mail –Messenger system –Established in the ancient Persian Empire Surgery –Islamic physicians lead the way in eye surgery –Developed use of anesthetics during surgery Math –Arabic efforts influenced number system (Arabic numbers) –Number system devised in India –Arabic mathematician laid out principles of Algebra –Latin pronunciation of mathematicians name creates the word algorithm (al-Khwarizmi)