1. the rise of Islam
Unit iii

2. Muhammad the prophet From Mecca in modern day Saudi Arabia
Muhammad was a middle aged merchant who claimed the Angel Gabriel asked him to recite the word of God
As a Merchant Muhammad had exposure to the ideas of Judaism and Christianity
Maybe even Persians

3. Muhammad takes political power
Mecca was already a popular pilgrimage site
Muhammad was kicked out because Islam threatened the pilgrimage
Muhammad and his followers went to Medina
Prayer switches from Jerusalem to Mecca
Muhammad became a political and military leader
630 CE Muhammad takes back Mecca

4. The Spread of Islam
Abu Bakr, Muhammad's successor began attacking the Byzantine Empire and recording the Qur'an
A vast empire grew out of the principles of Islam in just 200 years
Muhammad's successors relentlessly spread the religion through military conquest

5. The rapid spread of Islam

6. Basic Beliefs Five Pillars of Islam
Conquered people do not have to convert, only pay a larger tax.
Followers of Judaism and Christianity are specifically mentioned in the Qur’an as “people of the book”
Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahadah- declaring there is no god except God (Allah), and Muhammad is God’s messenger
2. Salat- Prayer five times a day
3. Zekat- Giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor
4. Sawm- Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca

7. The five pillars of Islam

8. Basic Beliefs Guiding text: The Qur'an Absolute Monotheism
Taking care of those less fortunate than you
Hadiths; a collection of sayings and stories about the prophet Muhammad
A believer in Islam is part of the Uma or community of believers
Islam becomes a restoration religion
Muslims believe the Monotheisms before Muhammad had strayed from purity
Muslims believe Mohamed was the last prophet sent by God

9. Shia- Sunni Split
Root of split goes back to Muhammad's first successor
Abu Bakr, Muhammad's father in law became the first Caliph
Many wanted his son in law, Ali to take over
Shia Muslims believe the Caliph should be a descendent of Muhammad
Caliph means “successor”
Meaning Abu Bakr was a “successor” to the prophet

10. Modern Shia- Sunni Divide
Today Shia Muslims make up 16% of the Islamic population

11. The Islamic split has serious ramifications today

12. Bagdad: The Center of learning
The Abbasid Caliphate ( CE) became the center for learning
The Persian ruling class moved the capital to Baghdad
Baghdad becomes the center of learning
Large library held the work of Greek philosophers, Greek scientist, and Buddhist and Hindu text
Openness to foreigners and their ideas
Possibly largest blending of cultures since Hellenistic times
Brought to an end by the Mongols

13. Ibn sina (980- 1037 CE) Often known by Latin name Avicenna
Gained great advances in the field of medicine
Created the Canon of Medicine
Became the standard medical text book for centuries

14. How’s this for a vacation?

15. Ibn battuta (1304-1368 CE) Moroccan explorer
Traveled the known Muslim world
Recorded his travels in the Rihla (translated to “Journey”)
Helped link Africa to the Islamic World
The most well traveled man to date

16. The Abrahamic traditions
Judaism est. around 1000 BCE
Christianity est. around 40 CE
Islam est. around 600 CE

17. What do the Abrahamic religions all have in common?
All three use a religious text that provide guidelines ethical and moral behaviors as well as how to govern believers
Judaism- Torah
Christians- The Bible
Islam- The Qur'an
All three recognize Abraham, Moses and other figures from the old testament as important religious figures
All three believe in fundamental monotheism
All three originated in the same region, and claim several of the same cities as religious holy sites

18. Jerusalem

19. Fundamental differences in the Abrahamic religions
Judaism
Judaism does not actively seek converts and the religion is associated with a group of people
Christianity
Christians believe Jesus was the son of God (or Messiah)
Catholic leaders must remain unmarried
Islam
Islam is the newest and only Abrahamic tradition to reference the other two in the holy text

20. Modern Distribution

21. Over half the world practices an Abrahamic religion