During ancient times, Arabs lived in much of the area from the Arabian peninsula to the Euphrates River.

Rise of Islam

The Arabs

During ancient times, Arabs lived in much of the area from the Arabian peninsula to the Euphrates River.

Bedouins

Most Arabs were bedouins. Bedouins were nomads – people who

move from place to place

Oasis

They traded with people they met, like those who settle near an oasis – a desert area that contains water.

Clan

They lived in clans – groups of people who share a common ancestor.

They were great fighters and became important members of many armies.

Oasis Towns

Small market towns grew into cities. Mecca and Medina were two oasis

cities – cities that grew up near an oasis.

Trade

Products from Asia, Africa and Europe were traded along sea and land routes through Arabia.

Religions like Judaism and Christianity were also spread by traders along these routes.

Mecca Mecca was the most important trade

and religious center in Arabia. Many people went on pilgrimage

from all parts of Arabia to worship at the shrine Ka’aba.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place.

Religions

Some Arabs were monotheistic – believed in one God. They believed Abraham built Ka’aba as a temple to God (Allah).

Other Arabs were polytheistic – believed in many gods.

Others blended Christian and Jewish beliefs with their own beliefs.

This is the type of environment that Muhammad was born into.

Muhammad (570-632)

Muhammad’s Early Life Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a

powerful family. His father died before he was born

his mother died soon after he was born.

Muhammad was raised by his grandparents and uncle.

Marriage

At 25 years old Muhammad married Khadija.

They had 3 sons (all died in childhood) and 4 daughters (all survived). Only one daughter, Fatima, lived after Muhammad died.

He became a wealthy merchant.

Revelations

At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad and told him he was the messenger of God. Muhammad began to teach there was

only one God and his name was Allah. This became the base for the religion Islam – a monotheistic religion based on submitting to God’s will.

Teaching in Mecca Muhammad began teaching

in Mecca, but the people were afraid of this new religion.

Muhammad and his followers were called Muslims.

The Muslims were persecuted.

The left Mecca and moved to Medina.

The journey from Mecca to Medina was called the Hijrah.

Return to Mecca

In 630 Muhammad and his followers returned to Mecca.

Muhammad had become a political, military and religious leader.

Muhammad and his followers defeated the people in Mecca.

Muhammad made Ka’aba a building for Allah.

Qur’an and Sunnah

The Qur’an (Koran) is the Muslim holy book.

It is a collection of the words God shared with Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

The Sunnah is the Muslim guide for living.

It shows Muslims how to apply Muhammad’s teachings in every day life.

The 5 Pillars

Muslims follow The Five Pillars of Islam. They are the 5 duties all Muslims must

perform.

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Testimony and declaration of faith.

2. Pray 5 times a day. 3. Give to the poor. 4. Fast during the month of

Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once

Other laws and customs

In addition to the 5 Pillars of Islam, Muslims must follow other laws:

A. They cannot eat pork. B. They cannot drink alcohol. C. They must worship on Friday

afternoon. D. They worship in a building called a

mosque. E. Mosques all face Mecca and Muslims

must pray facing Mecca.

Defender of the Faith

After Muhammad’s death in 632, his friend and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, became the first caliph.

A caliph is to lead the people by following Muslim laws in the Qur’an.

The Caliphate

After Abu Bakr died the next caliphs were:

A. Umar B. Uthman C. Ali

The first 4 Caliphs followed the Qur’an exactly and were called the “rightly guided caliphs”.

Formula for success

Under the first 4 Caliphs, the Arabs took over the Persian Empire, seized some of Byzantium’s provinces, and invaded Europe.

They believed Allah’s support was the reason for their victory.

Jihad

The Muslim warriors believed they were engaged in a jihad or a holy war to spread Islam to nonbelievers.

If they died in jihad they would go to a place in paradise.

Umayyad Dynasty

Caliph Uthman and Ali were both killed.

The Umayyad family took control and began the Umayyad Dynasty.

Split in Islam Muslims began to question how to

choose their leaders. Some felt they should accept the

Umayyad’s rule. They were called Sunnis – followers of the Sunnah.

Others felt they should follow caliphs only. They were called Shi’a.

Abbasids

The Abbasid caliph opposed the Umayyads.

In 750 they forced the Umayyads to flee to Spain where they set up a new Umayyad Dynasty.

This was a permanent split in the Muslim Empire.

Rise of Islam Part 2

Muslim Golden Age The Abbasids built a standing army –

an army that is maintained during times of peace and war.

They moved the capital to Baghdad and it became a major trading center in the world.

The strong economy led to a golden age – a period where a society gains prosperity and cultural achievements.

Advances in Learning

Under the Abbasids, the Muslims became skilled in: A. Calligraphy – fine handwriting B. Quatrain – four-line poems C. Algebra – wrote the first Algebra

book D. Identified diseases like smallpox

and measles E. Set up hospitals to treat everyone

– even poor people who couldn’t pay.

Quatrain – A quatrain is a 4 line poem that rhymes. Read the following 3 examples of quatrain poetry. In the space to the left write your own quatrain.

Tyger! Tyger! burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry? -From William Blake's "The Tyger“

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?��������������������������������������

Thou art more lovely and more temperateRough winds do shake the darling buds of

May,�And summer’s lease hath all too short a

date - From William Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVII

The mountain frames the sky As a shadow of an eagle flies byWith clouds hanging at its edgeA climber proves his courage on its rocky

ledge - The Mountain by Donna Brock

Write your own quatrain here:

Decline of the Abbasids

The Abbasid caliphs ignored their government responsibilities and did not protect merchants.

They began to be challenged by their own people.

In 1055 the Seljuk Turks took over the empire, but were defeated by the Christians during the Crusades.

In 1258 the Mongols took over and killed the Abbasid caliph which ended the Abbasid Dynasty.

Muslims in Spain

Abd al-Rahman was an Umayyad leader.

He fled to Spain when the Abbasids took control of the Muslim Empire in Arabia.

He took control of al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) and made Cordoba the capital city.

Many Umayyad followers moved to Spain.

Abd al-Rahman III named himself the first caliph of Cordoba.

Cordoba

Cordoba became one of the largest cities in Western Europe.

It was wealthy and an important city for trade.

It was a center for culture and learning.

Advances in Muslim Spain

Many advances took place in Muslim Spain:A. CalendarsB. PlanetariumsC. Encyclopedia of Geography

Jews were welcomed by the Umayyads

They developed their own culture. This was a golden age for the Jews.

Decline of al-Andalus

In 1204 al-Andalus began to fall apart.

Muslims were fighting each other for control.

Christians began attacking in the North and by the 1490s they had gained control of almost all al-Andalus.