What am I? Camels- “ships” of the desert; made trade in the Middle East possible

What does each camel tell you about the environment that they live in? What can you infer about each climate?

Bedouins- tribes of nomadic herders –Traveled desert with no permanent home –Raised sheep, camels, and goats –Guides for trade caravans Caravans- helped keep traders safe Bedouins were/are Arabs –Lived on Arabian Peninsula –Spoke Arabic Knew way through desert & location of oases: Guides for surviving trade in the desert! Early Inhabitants: People called Bedouins

Trade Cities Mecca and Medina –trading centers –located at crossroads of trade - traded elephant tusks, perfume, spices, cloth and gold

Early Religion: Before Islam Before Islam, most Arabs were polytheistic Kaaba- Sacred shrine in Mecca Muslims believe it was built by Abraham and Ishmael –Important prophets to Jews and Christians Many Arab gods worshipped there (before Islam) -worshipped idols or False gods

Kabba- ancient stone building located at the Grand Mosque in Mecca Black Stone –Eastern corner of Kabba –From time of Adam and Eve –Pilgrims touch and kiss the stone as they circle the Kabba

TRADITION OF ARABS Made a pilgrimage (religious journey) once a year to Mecca Worshipped at the Kaaba Trade goods- –A lot of trade went on –Mecca was a rich city –This pilgrimage brought mucho money into the city

WHO WAS MUHAMMAD? Prophet of Islam Prophet- someone who others believe has talked to God –Born in Mecca in 572 became an orphan –Job: led trade caravans across the desert to Palestine and Syria –Married a wealthy widow – Khadija Angel Gabriel told him that he was a prophet of God Arabic for God= Allah Muhammad decided to spread the word of Islam

The Hijra: 622 C.E. Merchants and traders of Arab tribes rejected the idea of one God –Did not want idols of the Kaaba destroyed –Wanted to kill him- thought Islam would ruin trade Hijra – migration of Muhammad and followers from Mecca to Medina, also known as “Night Flight” Medina meaning “city of the prophet” 622- start of the Muslim calendar

RETURN TO MECCA 630 C.E. – Muhammad returned to Mecca and recaptured the city with an army Dedicated the Black Stone & Kaaba to God (Allah) Banned many Arab idols (false gods) Mecca became Islamic religious center and stayed a powerful center of trade

Similarities Muslims are strict monotheists They believe in same the Judeo- Christian God, which they call Allah. Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God. Peoples of the Book

Mosque- Muslim house of worship

Remember, the Turks turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque

DOME MINARETS Some typical features of mosques are domes and minarets

Quran or Koran Quran –Holy book of Islam –Contains messages God gave to Muhammad –Similar to the Bible (Christian holy book) and the Torah (Jewish holy book) –“People of the Book”

The Five Pillars of Islam Declaration of Faith Declare there is only 1 God Allah & Muhammad is his messenger Prayer5 times per day; facing Mecca AlmsgivingMust give alms; money that goes to the needy FastingFast during daylight hours during month of Ramadan Pilgrimage or hajj Must travel to Mecca at least once in life if able

The HajjThe Hajj Over 2 million participants –Mina where the ritual called “stoning of the devil” takes place –2 miles from Mecca –717 people died, 900 injured due to a stampede

The Schism G.A Split Among Muslims 1.After Muhammad’s death… 2.Shiites- smaller group argued leader should be, direct descendant of Muhammad 3.Sunni- larger group, argued any true Muslim could become leader and a group of scholars should interpret the Koran Think about it….how is this like the schism we studied in Christianity?

Role of Women Quran taught men and women are spiritually equal Were given more rights by Quran - right to inherit property - right to education - right to divorce The Taliban imposed strict laws limiting what women in Afghanistan were allowed to do.

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Many New Converts Islam spreads two ways: 1.Arab Merchants trading in parts of Asia and North Africa 2.Arab armies conquered neighboring regions

Battle of Tours In Present-Day France -This stopped the Muslim advance into Christian Europe

Reasons for Success Weakness of the Roman, Byzantine, and Persian Empire United Arab community- made them stronger

Under Muslim Rule Muslims Tolerated other Faiths a. allowed Jews and Christians to practice their own religion b. Jews and Christians could pursue their own business affairs -Non-Muslims a. Fewer rights- could not own a weapon or fight in military b. Paid special tax to help government

The Age of Caliphs- The Golden Age Caliph- a Muslim ruler, considered Muhammed’s successor Wealth –Came from lands it controlled –Trade Harun ar-Rashid: A Powerful Caliph 1. wealthy leader 2. supported arts such as writing, music, dancers

Achievements of the Golden Age Math and Science –Contributions to algebra (comes from Arabic word al-jabr) –Ibn Sina- organized medical knowledge of Greeks and Arabs into the Canon of Medicine

Literature –Poetry was important in Islamic world –Sufis: mystics who believed that they could draw close to God through prayer, fasting and a simple life Helped spread Islam to Central Asia, India, and Africa