Following the death of Mohamed (632)
• Islam spread rapidly through Afro Eurasia
• In one century, Islam spread from the city of Mecca
to an empire that stretched from India to Spain
What caused the rapid expansion of Islam?
1. Muslim camel cavalries
2.Muslim horse cavalries
3.Invention of the stirrup
Animals moved quickly over long distancesSoldiers had stability and precision in battle
What caused the rapid expansion of Islam?
4. Religious belief that Allah was on their side
5. Growing Arab population/need for more land
6. Allowing conquered people to keep their culture and beliefs
7. Many people converted to Islam
Spread of Islam, 632-732
632 Arabian Peninsula
636 Damascus, Syria
638 Jerusalem
640 Egypt
670 Attacks on Constantinople/Byz. Empire
Spread of Islam, 632-732
680 All of North Africa
710 Crossed Strait of Gibraltar into Spain
718 All of Spain
724 Reached borders of China and India
732 Southern France until defeated at the Battle of Tours
Parts of the Muslim Empire
1. Umayyad Dynasty (601-750)• Muslim Empire in Africa and Spain• Improved farming by adding citrus fruits,
sugar cane and irrigation• Spanish cities were largest in Europe
Parts of the Muslim Empire
2. Abbasid Dynasty (750-1250)
• Muslim Empire in the Middle East• Capital City at Baghdad• Golden Age of Islam
Parts of the Muslim Empire
3. Moghul Dynasty (1100-1398)• Muslim Empire in India• Many Hindus converted to escape caste system• Urdu-new language blended
Arabic and Hindi• Sikhism-new religion blended
Islam and Hinduism