1. Unit 04: New Cultures in the Middle East & Africa, 600-145 Overview
The rise of Islam and spread of Islam led to conflicts with existing political systems, especially Christian Europe. This unit examines the impact of the Islamic Caliphates on medieval Asia, Africa, and Europe. Finally, it investigates the move from regional to global trade along the Silk Road and the Gold/Salt trade routes in West Africa.

2. Big Ideas
The rise and spread of Islam led to conflicts with existing political systems, especially Christian Europe.
As the Islamic Caliphates developed, they impacted Asia, Africa, and Europe culturally, politically, and economically.
The Gold/Salt trade encouraged the growth of prosperous kingdoms in West Africa and furthered the slave trade.

3. Essential Questions
What caused the development of the Islamic empire and what effects did this development have on civilization?
What role did trade play in the spread of Islam and the diffusion of ideas and technology?
What achievements in art, architecture, literature, music, science, math and technology originated in the Muslim world and diffused with the spread of Islam?

4. Islam – Historical origins, main ideas, and the spread of the religion
Muhammad – Born circa 570 and is considered the founder of Islam
Muslims – Those who worship Allah and consider Muhammad as the last Prophet
Mecca – The Holy City of the Islamic faith
Allah – Monotheistic God of Islam
Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca that each Muslim is required (health permitting) to take within their lifetime
Koran (Qu’ran) – Book or writings of the prophet Muhammad
Jihad (Holy Struggle) – The expansion of the Islamic state and control
Trade and spread of religion – Silk roads, European exploration

5. Development of Islamic caliphates
Abbasid caliphate: Baghdad
Fatimid caliphate: Cairo
Umayyad caliphate: Damascus
Shi’a movement begins as a reaction to Umayyad rule
Expansion of Islam into North Africa and Spain

6. THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ISLAM ON EUROPE, ASIA, AND AFRICA
Crusades by the Muslims and Christians
Incursions on Byzantine lands by the Seljuk Turks and Ottomans
Defeat in 1453 by the Ottomans and conquest of Constantinople. The was city renamed Istanbul and has remained that name until this day.
The Ottoman empire’s recruitment of young Christian Balkan boys into the Devshirme (boy levy) to serve in either the elite janissary (military) or administrative service.
Young Balkan boys were converted to Islam and served with the Ottoman for life.

7. THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ISLAM ON EUROPE, ASIA, AND AFRICA
The establishment of the Ottoman Empire established in Asia Minor(modern day Turkey) and lasts until the end of World War I
Safavids create a Shi’a empire in Persia (1500s1700s)
Mughals establish a Muslim empire in India under Babur, Akbar, and Shah Jahan

8. THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ISLAM ON EUROPE, ASIA, AND AFRICA
Bantu and Arabic blend Arabic to create Swahili language
Arab traders settle in port cities in East Africa
Slave trade introduced in Africa
Commerce spreads Islam throughout East Africa and the continent
Islam spreads thru the gold-salt-slave trade between North African Muslims and West African 

9. THE INTERACTIONS AMONG MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, AND JEWISH SOCIETIES IN EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AFRICA
People conquered by Muslims who willingly accepted Islam because they were attracted by its religious message and didn’t want to pay a poll tax.
Qur’an forbade forced conversions so Muslims allowed conquered people to retain their own religions.
Christians and Jews served as officials, scholars, and bureaucrats in Muslim states.
Muslims set up an extensive trade network between Europe, Asia and North Africa.
Cultural blending that led to achievements in art and science in Muslim- controlled cities in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and Asia

10. The Crusades conflicts between Christians and Muslims
Muslim conquest of Constantinople in 1453 and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire
Creation of the Fatimid dynasty set in North Africa
Muslim control the Maghrib (North Africa) along the Mediterranean coast by 670
Berbers, originally Christian and Jewish, converted to Islam in the 600s.

11. THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MUSLIM AND HINDU SOCIETIES IN SOUTH ASIA
The invasion of Central Asian Muslims into northwestern India in the 600s
The invasion of Turkish warlords into India in 1000 and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.
The treatment of the Hindus by the Delhi Sultanate as a conquered people
Mughal ruler Akbar establishes a golden age in India
Religious freedom for Hindus and non-Muslims
Taxation on Hindu pilgrims on non-Muslims abolished
Mingling of Arabic, Persian, and Hindu cultures leads to new developments in art and literature and the rise of the Urdu language in army camps

12. Shah Jahan – builds the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his favorite wife
Aurangazeb – expands the Mughal empire throughout most of the Indian subcontinent
Harsh policies against Hindus includes bringing back the tax on pilgrimages, banning of Hindu temple construction, destruction of Hindu monuments, and dismissal of Hindus from government positions
Militant Hindus known as Marathas establish a breakaway state in southern India.
The Sikhs break away and establish a separate state in the Punjab

13. HOW THE CRUSADES, THE BLACK DEATH, THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, AND THE GREAT SCHISM CONTRIBUTED TO THE END OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE.
CrusadesNew trade connections with Muslims gave Europeans a sider world view
Contact with Muslims led Europeans to seek new technologies and trade routes
Great Schism
Weakens papal authority and power of the Church

14. HOW THE CRUSADES, THE BLACK DEATH, THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, AND THE GREAT SCHISM CONTRIBUTED TO THE END OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE.
Black DeathThe high death toll ended the labor suppy for feudal manors
Labor was in high demand, ending serfdom and the feuday system.
Led to the rise of the nation state because of the new tax system
Encouraged creative thinking because a smaller population demanded new ways of dealiing with problems.
Encouraged scientific innovations because of needed labor saving techniques.Cities began to grow and new economic centers.
water mill
printing press

15. HOW THE CRUSADES, THE BLACK DEATH, THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, AND THE GREAT SCHISM CONTRIBUTED TO THE END OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE.
Hundred Years WarChallenged papal authority.
Monarchies consolodated power.
Ushered in modern warfare.
gun powder
long bow
cannons
infantry
Extended empires.
Led to creation of nation states.

16. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLAVE TRADE
The first major development occurs in 7th century when Islamic traders trade goods for Africans and ship them to Southwest Asia
Muslims and African rulers believed it was acceptable to enslave, buy, and sell non-Muslims
Approximately 4.5 million Africans were transported as slaves to Southwest Asia between 650 and 1000 AD
Slaves in African and Muslim societies had legal rights and opportunities for social mobility

17. HOW THE SILK ROAD AND THE AFRICAN GOLD-SALT TRADE FACILITATED THE SPREAD OF IDEAS AND TRADE
Silk Road – long distance trade route from China to Rome; products from the east such as spices and silk were transported west. Roman ideas were taken east. Indian traders acted as middlemen and grew wealthy, promoting cultural diffusion between regions that came into contact with each other.
African Gold-Salt-slave trade – Arab and Berber traders took salt from the Sahara to West Africa in exchange for gold. African traders crossed the Sahara to trade gold for salt and slaves in North Africa; cloth and weapons from Mediterranean ports were taken to West Africa. Powerful rulers in Ghana and Mali regulated the gold and slave trade in West Africa.
All of this contributed to cultural diffusion.