The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why?

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why? Reasons for the Spread of Islam Common Language (Arabic) spoken throughout the Middle East Strong Military Weakened state of Byzantine and Persian Empires allowed for Muslims to conquer these territories

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why? Treatment of conquered people Allowed others to practice their own faith, but you had to pay a special tax Qur’an forbids forced conversion If you freely converted you were exempt from a higher tax rate Possibility of social mobility People all are creations of Allah, so they are all equal

Taxation under the Umayyads

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why? Trade Cultural Diffusion People exposed to Islamic beliefs and embrace Islam’s message Regions Middle East by end of 600s via conquest North Africa by late 600s via trade & conquest Spain and Sicily by 700s via conquest India by 700s via trade & conquest Southeast Asia by the 1200s via trade Bedouins  Middle Eastern desert dwelling nomads who helped spread Islam through their camel-raising trade

Why Not Western Europe? The Battle of Tours (732 A.D.) Christian Franks under Charles Martel were able to repel Muslim forces in France. Preserved Christianity as the religion of Western Europe

The Abbasids Non-Muslims had grown dissatisfied with the Umayyads for the following Paying higher taxes than Muslims Social discrimination Lower wages in the army & government Anti-Umayyad forces overthrow the empire Abbasid Empire established under Caliph Abu’l-Abbas

Abbasids Empire reaches it’s height under Harun al-Rashid Life in the Abbasid Islamic state Sophisticated urban civilization develops Capital moved to Baghdad Better treatment of non-Muslims Leads to Islamic golden age

Abbasids Fall of the Abbasids Conquered by Seljuk Turks (recently converted Muslims) Allowed Abbassids to still oversee the religion, but Seljuks controlled state affairs. Abbassids aren’t completely defeated until Chinggis Khan captures Baghdad in 1258.