1. The Rise and Spread of Islam
Learn Islamic Greeting
Mu Allah Kum Absalom
Absalom Allah Kum

2. Geography of Arabian Peninsula
Islam begins in the Arabian Peninsula
Mecca located 45 miles inland from Red Sea on Western Side of large desert, that takes up most of Arabian Peninsula
Four trade routes cross desert and West Coast of Arabia

3. Trade
Mecca was a crossroads for trade in late 500’s when Muhammad grew up there
Camel trains filled the city carrying perfumes, ivory, spices, silk, and precious metals like gold
Travelled north to markets in Syria, where goods could be ship across the Mediterranean to Europe, some caravan travelled across the desert to Mesopotamia or Iraq

4. Bedouins and Merchants
Desert home to Bedouin people, Arab nomads who moved from one area to another
Herded sheep, camels, and goats and raised horses, travelled from one water hole to the next, animals grazed on bushes, water scarce for people and animals, sometime so salty only animals could drink it
Bedouins acted as guides for trade caravans, occasionally would raid caravans, stealing the goods, Meccan traders made agreements w/ Bedouins, Muhammad’s grand father a wealthy merchant help make these agreements
Used religion to seal alliances with Bedouins, inviting them to worship in the Kabah, a cube shaped building in the center of Mecca, it held a large black stone, a meteorite, sacred to Meccans, said to be place where Abahim tried to sacrifice Ismail the true son of promise, and many other small statues that were family gods
Meccans guarded the Kabah because the Kabah drew worshipers from all over Arabia

5. Muhammad
Though Muhammad’s grand father was a rich merchant, Muhammad was born into a family in 570 in hard times, poor
Muhammad was also an orphan, parents died before he was 7 yrs old, an Uncle took care of him, Muhammad grew up to work in caravan trade, travelled to different parts of the world, several times to Syria, part of Byzantine empire, reputation grew as great caravan leader
At 25 married Khadijah a wealthy widow he worked for who was 40, she was impressed by his hard work and honesty, began to manage caravans
In free time walked in hills outside of Mecca, pondering the troubles he saw in society, liked to be alone to pray and think

6. Muhammad, Cont’d
In 610 Muhammad went into a cave to pray, heard a voice of an angel say “proclaim”, asked what he should proclaim, answer was the one true God, Allah
Frightened at first, felt unworthy, voice told him to recite, Quran and he memorized and recited what the angel told him

7. The Mission
Angel said people had abandoned the true faith, instead of worshiping God alone they worshipped idols and false gods
Muhammad given a mission, to pass along all of the messages he received from God, beginning with the Arabs, and then the whole world
Muhammad obeyed, people accepted his teachings starting with his daughters and husbands and his wife and friends, became Muslims- persons that submit, faith became known as Islam- submission to God

8. Hijra
Meccans ignored Muhammad, thought new teachings threatened old religion and gods in Kabah, threatening their business, thought would make Mecca less important as a place for pilgrimage
Also taught all people brothers and sisters in a community established by God, angered Meccans who had slaves and felt superior to travelers
Heckled Muhammad as he preached, threw garbage and stones at him and followers, attacks became more violent, forced to flee city
People in Yathrib a city to the north invited Muhammad to com e to their city, saw as a wise man to settle disputes, many believed Muhammad was a prophet
622 in middle of night Muhammad and followers fled to Yathrib, called the hijra or migration, year one on Muslim Calendar
Yathrib changed name to Medina, city of the Prophet and became an Islamic center

9. Expansion
Islam did not remain in city of Medina, 630 Muhammad returned in triumph to Mecca, 632 Muhammad died, Islam had spread across Arabian peninsula
Next 100 yrs Islam moved through conquest across North Africa, to Spain and into Southern France, pushed East to India and China
People did not like Byzantine and Persian empires, rulers harsh and oppressive, new religion made sense, Muslims expert traders, travelled all over and took religion with them