1. EQ: What are some characteristics of Islam?

2. Arabian Peninsula Mostly desert Occupied by Bedouins Mecca was central trading city

3. Muhammad the Prophet Read p. 252 Married rich widow 15 years older than him Went to cave and heard Allah’s voice Was illiterate – family members wrote down his revelations Began teaching what he heard Travelled to Mecca and destroyed the idols Before Islam, religions of the Arabian Peninsula were polytheistic.

4. Islam - Doctrine Five pillars, or tenets 1.Declaration of Faith 2.Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca 3.Tithe – 2% of income 4.Jihad – spiritual struggle 5.Hajj – to Mecca Quran, also spelled Koran, is main holy book Believe Jesus was prophet but not God Holy day is on Friday – like Jewish Sabbath Call to Prayer

5. Women and Islam Sharia – Islamic law Quran treats men and women with equality In practice, similar to how women were viewed according to Christianity, some Muslim women were highly subjugated, or inferior to men, in ancient Islamic societies

6. Islamic Schism Muhammad died, he had no sons Leaders argue over who should take over as caliph Sunnis say the leader should be elected Shiites say the leader should be a blood relation of Muhammad This led to religious wars between the two

7. Spread of Islam – Umayyads 650-750 A.D. Muhammad dies – 632 A.D. 1 st caliph, Abu Baker, spreads Islam through series of wars First four caliphs conquered Byzantine and Persian territory Tolerant conquerors – didn’t force conversion Conquer Modern day Spain Muhammad’s caliphate Later Umayyad caliphate rulers

8. Spread of Islam – Abbasids 750-1250 A.D. A new family of Sunni leaders take power Baghdad becomes their powerful Arab capital This is the Golden Age Arabs invent Algebra, advances in mathematics and medicine

9. Effects of Islamic Empires Create learning centers in Cairo, Cordoba Spain, and Baghdad Trade network closely links Europe and the Arab world While Europe was in Dark Ages, preserved learning from Ancient Greeks and Romans

10. Decline of Islamic Empires 850 A.D. Ottoman Turks conquer most of the Byzantine empire 1099 A.D. Christians attack Jerusalem in the Crusades – attacks lasted nearly 200 years 1216 A.D. Genghis Khan leading the Mongols attacks