The Spread of Islam

THE SPREAD OF ISLAMWorld History Ms. Costas

An Age of Conquests Caliph: successor to

Muhammad Abu Bakr: the first caliph to

Islam after Muhammad’s death After Muhammad’s death many

Arab tribal leaders withdrew their loyalty to Islam

Abu Bakr successfully reunited the Arabs based on their beliefs in Islam

After reuniting the Arabs had a series of military conquests

Spread of Islam Under the first four caliphs,

Arab armies marched from victory to victory

Eventually Muslim armies would take over: Much of the Byzantine

Empire Parts of Europe Northern Africa Parts of the Persian Empire

Treatment of Conquered People

Muslim leaders imposed a special tax against non-Muslims

Allowed Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians to practice their own faiths and follow their own laws

Many non-Muslims eventually converted to Islam

Movements within Islam After Muhammad’s death there were divisions within Islam Sunni:

Felt caliph should be chosen by leaders of the Muslim community Shi’ites:

Argued that descendants of the Prophet were divinely inspired and should be the only successors

Battle of Power: Sunni and Shi’ites battled for control and leadership Similar belief systems, but many differences in law, religious practice

and daily life 90% of Muslims are Sunni

Sufi: A third movement within Islam. Spread Islam through missionary work

Umayyads Dynasty that ruled

Islamic world until 750

Capital located in Damascus, Syria

Non-Muslims hated the Umayyads because they had less power than Muslims

Abbassids Led by Abu al-Abbas Defeated the Umayyads family

and ended the empire Soon after defeating the

Umayyad family, invited remaining family members to a banquet and killed them all

Moved capital to Baghdad, Iraq Baghdad reached its peak

under the rule of Harun al-Rashid (786-809) Rashid was admired as a model

ruler

Decline Abbassid control fragmented

starting in 850 Civil wars erupted Between 900 and 1400, a

series of invasions added to the chaos 900s: Seljuk Turks invaded 1099: Crusaders: Christian

invaders captured Jerusalem 1300s: Mongols: Timur the

Lame: Invaded and conquered both Muslim and non-Muslim lands