1. Key Concept 3.2: Continuity & Innovations of State Forms & Their Interactions (Islam)
Period 3: 600 – 1450 CE

2. In less than 200 years, Islam goes from not existing to being the religious and political organizing principle of one of the largest empires in the world.

3. Islamic Books & Traditions
Quran- Written record of the revelations given to the Prophet
Five Pillars- Obligations to show faith
Hadith- Collection of stories and sayings of the Prophet
Sharia- Canonical law
Umma- Community of believers

4. Arab World at Muhammad’s Birth
Tribal
Religiously Diverse
Situated between two powerful (wealthy) empires- Sassanid and Byzantine

5. Conflict with Tribal Leaders
Islam increased rights of women and orphans
Umma more important than tribal connections
Threat to religious pilgrimage trade
Quraysh Tribe – Most powerful in Mecca

6. The Quraysh Tribe forced Muhammad and his followers out of Mecca in 622 CE- They went to Medina
This marks year Zero in the Islamic calendar

7. Why was this important?
The Islamic community now looks more like a small empire than a church
Muhammad was not only the RELIGIOUS leader, he was the POLITICAL leader as well
No other religious figure had to do this

8. Religion and secular law/politics coexisted from the beginning

9. The Question of Succession
Muhammad Dies 632 CE
Since Muhammad was considered the last prophet, there was no religious vacuum left behind
BUT, they needed a political leader
Caliph- “successor”

10. Disagreement
Muhammad’s father in law (Abu Bakr) or son in law (Ali)?
This disagreement began the divide between the two major sects
Sunni – Support Abu Bakr and the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”
Shia – Support Ali

11. Abu Bakr- 1st Caliph
Began the Arab expansion- the entire Arabian Peninsula
Sees Byzantium and Sassanid's as threat

12. Islam Spreads As a result, policies were tolerant of other religions
Muslim conquerors were more concerned with the extension of power for leaders and people than with spreading their religious beliefs
As a result, policies were tolerant of other religions
Islam spread because of people’s tendency to connect military success with religion and benefits of conversion (ex: lower taxes)

14. Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) Capital: Damascus Expanded the empire
Overthrown by the Abbasids
One member of the family established the Caliphate of Cordoba in Spain

15. Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258) Capital: Baghdad
Raised prestige and power of the empire
Promoted commerce, industry, arts, science
Destroyed by Mongol Invasion

16. Al-Andalus (711-1492) Islamic Spain
Preserved Greco-roman culture and enhanced it with scientific and mathematical developments of the Muslim world
Inter-regional commerce thrived

17. India and Southeast Asia
Center of Islamic government: Delhi
Delhi Sultanate failed to establish a strong administration
Islam spread through commercial contacts and conversion
Majority of population (Hindus and Buddhists) did not convert

18. Africa
Islam spread through caravan routes, Indian Ocean Trade, and war
Some blending with traditional beliefs and practices

19. Mamluk Dynasties Egypt
Encouraged safety of trade routes = prosperity of Egypt
Taken over by Ottoman Turks in the 16th Century

20. Role of Women
Early- not required to veil and were not secluded from society
Islamic women had greater privileges than women in other societies at the same time
However, still patriarchal society