ISLAM

Origins Mecca – caravan city on Arabian Peninsula Mecca – caravan city on Arabian Peninsula Ka’ba – shrine – believed to be site of altar Abraham was to sacrifice his son on Ka’ba – shrine – believed to be site of altar Abraham was to sacrifice his son on Pilgrimage site for Jews and Christians Pilgrimage site for Jews and Christians Other shrines to local gods also in city Other shrines to local gods also in city

Muhammad Born in Mecca – 570 Born in Mecca – 570 Orphaned – raised by uncle Orphaned – raised by uncle Married Khadija – widow Married Khadija – widow Meditated in mountains – Angel Gabriel visited Meditated in mountains – Angel Gabriel visited Revelations continued until he died Revelations continued until he died Shared with family Shared with family

Foundations Muslim – one who makes submission Islam – to the will of God 5 Pillars of faith: -There is no God but God and Muhammed is his prophet - pray 5 times a day - make the hajj to Mecca - give alms to the poor - fast during the month of Ramadan

Local Effect Chased out of Mecca (hijra) Chased out of Mecca (hijra) People of Medina welcomed him – settled disputes People of Medina welcomed him – settled disputes Founded an umma – community defined by acceptance of Islam and Muhammad as the “Messenger of God” Founded an umma – community defined by acceptance of Islam and Muhammad as the “Messenger of God” Jews and Christians – people of the Book Jews and Christians – people of the Book Respect for them led to praying toward Mecca – site of Ka’ba Respect for them led to praying toward Mecca – site of Ka’ba

Return to Mecca Skirmishes with Mecca – sapped the city’s strength Skirmishes with Mecca – sapped the city’s strength Led to many in Mecca to see Muhammad as true prophet Led to many in Mecca to see Muhammad as true prophet Muhammad and followers able to make hajj to Mecca Muhammad and followers able to make hajj to Mecca Had disagreement with Jews, exiled them from Medina Had disagreement with Jews, exiled them from Medina Medina still seen as a holy site Medina still seen as a holy site

Death of Muhammad 632 – died after brief illness 632 – died after brief illness Medina stayed as special site because of the umma Medina stayed as special site because of the umma Abu Bakr – successor to Muhammad Abu Bakr – successor to Muhammad Father of Muhammad’s favorite wife Father of Muhammad’s favorite wife Close friend Close friend Given title caliph (khalifa) – means successor Given title caliph (khalifa) – means successor

Quran The Recitation The Recitation Words of God, not Muhammad Words of God, not Muhammad Written after Muhammad’s death Written after Muhammad’s death

Leadership Civil wars break out over who should lead Civil wars break out over who should lead 3 rd Caliph assassinated 3 rd Caliph assassinated Ali – Muhammad’s son-in-law chosen to lead Ali – Muhammad’s son-in-law chosen to lead Leads to more war Leads to more war Ali ultimately gets killed Ali ultimately gets killed

Shi’ites Sect who saw Ali as rightful successor Sect who saw Ali as rightful successor All leaders of Shi’ites claim leaders must be descendants of Muhammad All leaders of Shi’ites claim leaders must be descendants of Muhammad Caliph seen as more secular than religious Caliph seen as more secular than religious

Sunna’s Consider caliphs as Imams Consider caliphs as Imams Do not possess power to define true belief Do not possess power to define true belief Can’t expel heretics or discipline clergy Can’t expel heretics or discipline clergy Supported 1 st three caliphs Supported 1 st three caliphs Most Muslims of this group Most Muslims of this group Believe that individuals should read and interpret Quran for themselves Believe that individuals should read and interpret Quran for themselves

Caliphates nd Caliph – Umar 2 nd Caliph – Umar Conquered Syria and Egypt Conquered Syria and Egypt Defeated last Sasanid shah Defeated last Sasanid shah 711 – Berbers conquered Spain 711 – Berbers conquered Spain 711 – Southern Indus Valley & western India conquered 711 – Southern Indus Valley & western India conquered

How was Muslim Conquest Achieved? Social structure of Arab society Social structure of Arab society Arabs prohibited from owning conquered lands, kept men in the army Arabs prohibited from owning conquered lands, kept men in the army Military controlled non Islamic populations, collected taxes Military controlled non Islamic populations, collected taxes Little effort made to convert conquered people Little effort made to convert conquered people

Umayyad Caliphate Ruled over Arabs, not a religious empire Ruled over Arabs, not a religious empire Muslim Arabs in army Muslim Arabs in army Used locals as secretaries and tax collectors Used locals as secretaries and tax collectors Later replaced local men with Muslims Later replaced local men with Muslims Introduced Arab as government language Introduced Arab as government language

Fall of Umayyad Dissatisfaction of locals with rule and exclusionary policies Dissatisfaction of locals with rule and exclusionary policies Capital – Damascus – resentment of other Arab people – felt left out Capital – Damascus – resentment of other Arab people – felt left out Caliphs seen as irreligious and too secular Caliphs seen as irreligious and too secular Rebellions start to occur Rebellions start to occur

Abbasid Caliphate Overthrew last Umayyad caliph Overthrew last Umayyad caliph Seen as family of Ali – gained Shi’ite support Seen as family of Ali – gained Shi’ite support Theology and religious law foundations of government Theology and religious law foundations of government Adopted customs of Sasanid shahs Adopted customs of Sasanid shahs Capital established in Baghdad Capital established in Baghdad

Golden Age Early years of Abbasid Caliphate Early years of Abbasid Caliphate Translations Greek works Translations Greek works Cultural diffusion – Greek, Iranian, Central Asian, and African cultures blended Cultural diffusion – Greek, Iranian, Central Asian, and African cultures blended Papermaking from China Papermaking from China The Arabian Nights – written at this time The Arabian Nights – written at this time Conversion of conquered people solidified rule Conversion of conquered people solidified rule

Decline of Abbasid Conversion weakened power base of Arab Caliphs Conversion weakened power base of Arab Caliphs Frontier revolts too far away to be stopped Frontier revolts too far away to be stopped As more converted, less need for centralized government As more converted, less need for centralized government Money stopped flowing into Baghdad Money stopped flowing into Baghdad

Abbasid Reaction Purchased mamluks – Turkic slaves from central Asians – created standing army Purchased mamluks – Turkic slaves from central Asians – created standing army Expensive to keep – Turks overthrew caliphs Expensive to keep – Turks overthrew caliphs Various groups control parts of Islamic empire for next century Various groups control parts of Islamic empire for next century

Seljuk Turks Gained control Gained control Nomadic rule Nomadic rule Let infrastructure of cities crumble Let infrastructure of cities crumble Old system of paying soldiers and managing territories over taxed land and people Old system of paying soldiers and managing territories over taxed land and people

Crusades 1099 Jerusalem captured by Christians Jerusalem captured by Christians Muslims forced to stop fighting among themselves and deal with Europeans Muslims forced to stop fighting among themselves and deal with Europeans Saladin – unified Egypt and Syria Saladin – unified Egypt and Syria Reclaimed Jerusalem Reclaimed Jerusalem Worked out treaty with Richard the Lionhearted Worked out treaty with Richard the Lionhearted Trade between Europe and Middle East occurred Trade between Europe and Middle East occurred

Mongol Invasions 1260 – mamluks defeated Mongols 1260 – mamluks defeated Mongols Mongols were successful elsewhere – shifted Silk Road trade north Mongols were successful elsewhere – shifted Silk Road trade north Cities destroyed by Mongols never recovered Cities destroyed by Mongols never recovered Society changed after Mongols arrived Society changed after Mongols arrived

Islamic Law Pre-Muhammad – no legal system Pre-Muhammad – no legal system Custom and Muhammad’s authority – primary guides Custom and Muhammad’s authority – primary guides Slowly developed laws to govern social and religious life Slowly developed laws to govern social and religious life Hadith – words or deeds of Muhammad used to guide life Hadith – words or deeds of Muhammad used to guide life Personal behavior Personal behavior Quran – best sources of guidance Quran – best sources of guidance

Shari’a Books of the hadith Books of the hadith Sunnis use 6 books Sunnis use 6 books Shi’ites use 4 Shi’ites use 4 Became basis of urban lifestyles – little variation from Morocco to India Became basis of urban lifestyles – little variation from Morocco to India

Role of Women Adopted veiling in public from Sasanid and Byzantine Adopted veiling in public from Sasanid and Byzantine Law gave women more status than Christian or Jewish law Law gave women more status than Christian or Jewish law Inherit property Inherit property Could remarry Could remarry Could divorce Could divorce Practice birth control Practice birth control Go on pilgrimage Go on pilgrimage

Slaves Allowed non-Muslims to be enslaved Allowed non-Muslims to be enslaved People of the Book – could not be enslaved unless they were prisoners of war People of the Book – could not be enslaved unless they were prisoners of war Hereditary slavery did not develop Hereditary slavery did not develop Offspring of Muslim men and slave women born free Offspring of Muslim men and slave women born free

Change over Time Conversion was not organized Conversion was not organized Different areas interpreted Islam differently Different areas interpreted Islam differently Iranians start to migrate to India and Anatolia Iranians start to migrate to India and Anatolia Set up madrasa – religious colleges Set up madrasa – religious colleges growth of Sufi sect – seek union with God through rituals growth of Sufi sect – seek union with God through rituals