The Rise of Islam

The Life of Muhammad 1. Muhammad born 570 A.D. 2. Orphaned at age 8 3. Married at 25 to wealthy older widow 4. Successful caravan trader 5. Had vision of the Angel Gabriel in A.D. 610 on Mt. Hira 6. Began telling/preaching about Allah about 100 followers by A.D. 620

7. Muhammad's message angered wealthy people in Mecca 8 7. Muhammad's message angered wealthy people in Mecca 8. Muhammad flees to Medina in 622 A.D. (Hejira) 9. gains support and returns to Mecca in 630 and conquerors the city 10. Muhammad destroys all the idols in the Ka’bah 11. appoints Muslim governor in Mecca 12. returns to Medina to consolidate power 13. Muhammad dies in A.D. 632 having conquered the central and western coastal regions of Arabia

Early Problems Succession ? Mohammed had no surviving male children Daughter: Fatima Son-in-law: Ali, child of his uncle generated a permanent split in the Islamic community Sunnis Shi’as

Sunnis considered themselves the “orthodox” followers of Mohammed consider the Shi’as to be “dissenters” issue: who leads after Mohammed ?? the Caliph (or “leader”) went successively to followers - Abu Bakr, then Oman - then Uthman and Ali

Islamic Caliphates Rahisdun Caliphate 632-661 Umayyad 7-8th Century Abbasid 8-13th Century Fatimid 11-13th Century Ottoman 15-20th Century

Rahisdun Caliphate 632-661 Rashidun Caliphate ( الخلافة الراشدية) was the first of the four Arab caliphates. Controlled by the first four successors of Muhammad, known as the "Rightly Guided" caliphs. Founded after Muhammad's death in 632, the empire lasted until Ali's death in 661. Dome of the rock Begun

Umayyad Caliphate 661-750 Capital city at Damascus (Syria, SWA) Arabic became language of many conquered people and helped unify them under Islam Camel and horse cavalries were faster than traditional armies; empire expanded quickly Allowed people to follow own belief systems & culture Non-Muslims sometimes paid higher taxes Jews and Christians held important gov’t. positions Many people converted to Islam in the late 8th century Cross regional & cultural exchange occurred for many years among Christians, Jews, Muslims and polytheistic people.

Abbasid Caliphate 750 - 1258 Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750 Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them Only Spain remained Umayyad North Africa is disputed territory, ultimately Fatamid Diverse administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab) Militarily competent, but not set on imperial expansion Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE) High point of Abbasid dynasty Baghdad center of commerce Great cultural activity Corruption led to Abbasid downfall

Fatimid Dynasty 910-1171 Replaced the Umayyad Empire in North Africa, Egypt, & the Holy Land Founded the city of Cairo Promoted religious tolerance to Sunnis, Jews, & Coptic Christians Established a massive trade network in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and East Asia during the Song Dynasty of China. Fatimids gave select groups governorship positions. Turkish invaders and Crusaders would capture even more land. Military rule and eventually Saladin took control The Sunni Ayyubid Dynasty (Kurdish) under Saladin ruled the lands of modern-day Egypt, Syria, Palestine, & western Saudi Arabia. Crusades had little effect on Fatimids and Ayyubid Dynasties

Ottoman Empire 1301-1918 The Ottoman Empire was at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries. The Ottoman Empire was, an Islamic successor to earlier Mediterranean empires (Rome and Byzantium) Osman I (1299-1326) Mehmet I (1413-1421) Mehmet II: (1444-1445; 1451-1481) ”The Conqueror” Conquered Constantinople Severely restricted European access to the Silk Road Suleiman I, “the Magnificent” (1520-1566) Ottoman Empire lasted until the end of World War I

Hagia Sophia