1. Section I: The Rise and Spread of Islam (Pages 170-178)
This section is about:
Muhammad, the father of the monotheistic religion of Islam.
How Muhammad attracted followers all over the Arabian Peninsula.
The basic beliefs of Islam and how it spread to Asia and the Mediterranean regions.
How Turkish speaking groups challenged Islamic rulers.

2. Islam began on the Arabian Peninsula – in southwest Asia.
We really just call the area “the Middle East.”
It’s one of the driest areas of the world, with no permanent rivers or lakes (but there is an occasional oasis).

3. The Middle East is also a “crossroads” of trade.
Camels helped carry on trade between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Incense, spices, gold, ivory, silk…. all traded – often in and around Mecca.
Mecca was first known as Arabia’s busiest trading center – it’s now the center of the Muslim religion. 1

4. One of the Arab clans that lived in Arabia were…
… Bedouin Nomads.
They were desert travelers who raised sheep, goats, and camels.
They often had to travel great distances to find food and water for their animals.
One of these Bedouins was named Muhammad.
He ended up becoming the most important person in the history of Islam.

5. Muhammad was born in Mecca – about 570 AD His uncle raised him (his parents both died before he was even 7)
Muhammad was one of those guys who liked to wander off by himself and think about things (like the meaning of life).
One day (in 610), he had a vision: the angel Gabriel appeared to him.
Muhammad was told to preach the word of God.
He didn’t really know how to do that, but he had dreams, and more visions, and got advice from family and friends.
They told him he was destined to be a prophet (a man who spoke for God).
His wife was his first convert.
(like Buddha)

6. Before long, some people were listening to him
He was telling people that Allah was the one true God – and Allah is the only one (and only) God they should pray to.
Some people believed him and did what he asked.
Others began to harass and persecute him. 2

7. In 622, Muhammad and his followers decided to leave Mecca.
The traveled to Medina (on a trip they called the hijra).
They left on July 16, 622 – which is day 1 of the Islamic calendar.
Muhammad successfully converted all of Medina to Islam and started what we know as Islam.
Later, Mecca and Medina had some issues between them.
Muhammad and the Muslims conquered Mecca in 630.
He destroyed many statues in the Kaaba and made it into the center of the Muslim religion.

9. The teachings of Muhammad:
All people are equal before God
There is only one God: Allah
Muslims must “submit to the will of Allah”
Muslims must follow the “Five Pillars of Islam”

10. The Five Pillars of Islam (all Muslims MUST)
Confessional Faith “There is no God but Allah”
Pray 5 times a day (facing Mecca)
Fast during Ramadan (sunrise to sunset)
Give alms to the poor (2 ½ % of salary +)
Make a Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca (at least once in your lifetime) 3
Just one man talking about the beliefs of Islam – but very full of information

11. The Koran (Quran): the book of Muslim rules and laws
Is the word of god, given to Muhammad, by the angel Gabriel.
Guides Muslims through every aspect of life: moral, social, political, and legal.
The first Chapters: describe the goodness and power of Allah.
There are many similarities to the Jewish and Christian bibles.
Muslims even called them: “the people of the book” and were a little tolerant of them. 4
The Bible is the most read book ever
The Koran is the most read book ever
(in it’s original language)

12. Here’s how it’s supposed
Many Muslims view Islam as a very old religion. Many other people view it as a newer religion.
One Side
They feel they believe in the same God (Allah) who was the god of the Jews/Hebrews and Christians.
Allah just came back again to tell Muslims about who he was - to Muhammad.
Muslims are the “Chosen People of God/Allah.”
The Other Side
Hebrews feel they’re “God’s Chosen People” through Abraham.
Feel these Muslims have come up with an entirely new thing.
Here’s how it’s supposed
to have happened:

13. Very simply, Abraham and Sarah his wife were passed child bearing age but God had promised them a son. Being impatient, as we humans are, and as was a custom then, Sarah tried to hurry things along.
She told Abraham to take her servant, Hagar and have a son by her, which Abraham did. This son was named Ishmael (but he was not the promised Son).
Eventually, Sarah did conceive and bear a son, Isaac, which was the promised son. Sarah became jealous of Hagar and asked Abraham to get rid of his and Hagar’s son, which eventually happened. He sent them away – into the desert.
Issac was to father Jacob and Jacob was to father twelve sons, some of these too were by servants. These twelve sons were the twelve patriarchs, fathering the twelve tribes of Israel or the nation of Israel.
However, Ishmael also fathered twelve sons that became large tribes but these were always the enemy of Israel and gave Israel much trouble over time.

15. When he conquered Mecca, Muhammad was 60 years old
He only lived 2 more years.
But before he died, he did teach that Muslims must spread Allah’s rule.
Sometimes this might require jihad (which can mean different things to different people).
Jihad can mean great effort, great struggle, and sometimes even implies fighting and wars.

16. Who would take Muhammad’s place?
No-one.
Muslims consider Muhammad the last of the prophets.
4 men tried. They were called caliphs (Arabic for successors).
They acted as political and religious leaders and oversaw the spread of Islam (Muhammad told his followers to “spread the word.”).
Abu Bakr – united the Arab peninsula
Umar – led armies which spread Islam out of the Arabian peninsula.
3/4. Uthman and Ali – expanded the empire east and west

17. Among Muslims,, two separate groups arose (they still exist even today)
Shiites (several)
Believed the only successor to Muhammad had to be his daughter, son-in-law, and their descendants.
Believed they needed a person as a guide – between Allah and the people.
Sunnis
Larger of the two.
Supported the caliphs.
Believed the Koran was the only guide they needed.
Are Lutherans and Catholics alike? 5

18. From 630 (Muhammad’s death) – 750
Muslims armies fought, conquered, and controlled: Rhodes, Sicily, North Africa, Afghanistan, the Byzantines, Jerusalem, Persia, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, and even some of China.
But, not Europe – they would remain Christian.

19. The Abbasid Dynasty started making the Muslim world special - for reasons besides Muhammad6
Built mosques, schools, and hospitals.
Economics based on agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing.
Built a new capital on the Tigris River (Baghdad).
Brought in new plants: rice, sugar cane, lemons, limes, bananas, coconuts, palms, spinach, eggplant.
Traded: porcelain from China, ivory and gold from Africa, furs from Europe, spices, gems, linens, beautiful glassware.
Peace, prosperity, the arts, learning, literature, poetry, medicine, math, astronomy…

20. Another Muslim group arose at this time: Sufis They believed they got closer to Allah through continuous inner prayer, fasting, and other rituals.
Whirling Dervishes

21. The Empires of the caliphs did not remain united
Most of the lands conquered by the Muslims adopted Islam.
But, the caliphs all wanted to do their own things. At one time there were even 3 different caliphs (Baghdad, North Africa, and Spain).
That allowed one group of Turks (the Seljuks) to move in. 7

22. The Seljuks grew stronger in the eastern part of the Muslim Empire
They replaced the caliph with their own leader and called him a sultan.
The Seljuks also conquered an area ruled by the Christian emperor (Constantinople) and he asked the pope for help to get rid of them.
The pope was more interested in trying to win back Jerusalem than Constantinople.

23. So, Pope Urban started a series of wars to win back the holy lands of Jesus (including Jerusalem)
These wars were called: the Crusades.
The Crusaders conquered Constantinople and eventually Jerusalem, but in the process killed many men, women, and children.
For 150 years, fighting went on between Christian Crusaders and Muslims.
The Muslim empire was never again as united as it was before these wars.
Horrible History – The Crusades
9-11

24. Make sure page "A" is completed