Transcript The Islamic World

The Middle East is a region, or area with shared characteristics. It
consists of nations from northern Africa and southwest Asia.
Water: A Precious
Resource
Note:
The Nile is fed by two
major branches: The
White and Blue Nile
Questions:
In what direction does the
Nile flow?
Where two rivers made up
Mesopotamia? Where do
they empty?
What river separates
Jordan and Israel?
Map of the Persian Gulf
The nations of Kuwait, Bahrain, U.A.E. Qatar and Oman have
benefited from a combination of a lot of oil and small populations.
OPEC – Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPEC is a cartel, or an
organization that controls the
supply and demand of a
product.
OPEC Members
Algeria
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Libya
Nigeria
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela
Pipeline to Refinery in Bahrain
For centuries,
Egypt was
known as the
“gift of the Nile”.
Egyptian Fellahin or farmers
Abraham
Arabic is the most
widely spoken language
in the Middle East, yet
different dialects exist.
Languages Spoken:
• Arabic – (Different dialects
include “Gulf Arabic”, Iraqi
Arabic, Egyptian Arabic and
Maghreb Arabic)
•Turkish - Turkey
• Persian or “Farsi”- Iran
• Hebrew – Israel
• Kurdish – where Iraq,
Turkey, Iran meet
• Berber – spoken in parts of
NW Africa
Linguistic Map - Middle East
The Bedouin
The term bedouin refers to nomads
in and around the Arabian
peninsula. At one time, bedouins
occupied a prevalent, or strong
place in Mideastern society.
Questions – Life in the Desert
• How did the bedouin traditionally
survive in such a harsh
environment?
• How were roles divided within
bedouin society?
• What traits, or characteristics are
the bedouin known for?
• What factors have contributed to
the diminishment of their presence?
Bedouin in Tunisia
Bedouin society was
family oriented. A
proverb read “I and my
brother against our
cousin. My cousin and
I against our enemy”.
Possessions often
included vibrant rugs,
tea kettles and cooking
tripods.
(Above right a man
smokes out of a pipe.
An oud, or guitar sits at
his side.)
Origins of Judaism
The story of Judaism starts circa
2000 BC when the prophet
Abraham led the Hebrews from
Ur in Mesopotamia to Canaan,
the Promised Land.
In time, drought forced the
Hebrews out of Canaan and
many settled in Egypt. But after
a Pharaoh’s decree that all firstborn Hebrew males be killed,
Moses led the Hebrews across
Sinai, where he received the Ten
Commandments, thus marking
the beginning of Judaism.
Questions: What are key
themes in the story of Judaism?
By what names is the Promised
Land referred to today?
The Diaspora
After the return to the Promised
Land, strong kings such as King
David and his son King Solomon
united the Jewish people. But
centuries of conflict followed.
In 70 AD, the Jewish people were
driven from the Promised Land by
the Romans, marking a 2,000
year period of separation that
became known as the diaspora.
Right: The Western Wall, believed to be the
last remaining wall of the Temple of Solomon,
destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.
The Advent of
Christianity
Christianity grew out of
Judaism, as a result of the
teachings of Jesus, a young
rabbi born in Bethlehem, and
raised in Galilee.
Jesus spoke of the importance
of one god, and the necessity
of goodwill among people.
Following his execution in
Jerusalem at the hands of
Roman authorities, the
teachings of Jesus were
recorded into the Gospels,
which are the basis of the New
Testament.
Top Left: Map of Jesus’ Ministry
Top Right: Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Church in Jerusalem. Built circa 325
C.E. during the rule of the Emperor
Constantine to mark the spot where
Jesus was crucified, and rose to heaven.
Islam began in the Arabian
Desert
According to Islamic tradition, the
prophet Muhammad received a
message from God while fasting in
610, during the month of
Ramadan, just outside of Mecca.
At first, local Meccans rejected
Muhammad’s new found faith,
prompting Muhammad to journey,
the hegira, north to Medina, where
he won his first converts.
Muhammad later returned to
Mecca, and defeated the local
pagans on the site where the
kaaba sits today.
This Persian painting depicts the Battle of Badr.
Muhammad's victory at Badr in 624 CE [Bilkent
University]
Islam as a Way of Life
Islam (“Submission” to God, or
Allah) is based upon Five Pillars,
or Obligations
 The Profession of Faith –
There is no god but God, and
Muhammad is his messenger.
 Prayer five times per day
 Giving alms, or charity
 Fasting (purifying) during
holy month of Ramadan
 The Hajj, or pilgrimage to
Mecca
Q. What is the central idea in
Islam?
Muslim prayer in full prostration
The Kaaba in Mecca
Three Monotheistic Faiths
Religion
Prophets/Time
Tenets, Beliefs
Texts,Traditions
Judaism
1200 BCE
Abraham,
Moses
Belief in one
god
Worship in
Temple
Torah
Rosh Hoshana &
Passover
Sabbath –
Saturday
Christianity
1 AD or CE
Belief in one
(birth of Jesus) god
Jesus – founder Worship in
33 CE – death of Church
Bible (Old and
New Testaments)
Easter – Rising
Sabbath - Sunday
Jesus
Islam
610 AD/ 1 AH
Muhammad
Belief one god Qur’an (Koran)
Ramadan
Worship in
Sabbath – Friday
mosque
Activity: Understanding Islam as a Way of Life
Synopsis: Students will complete timed readings that portray the role of Islam
in daily life, and discuss new information learned.
Essential Questions
Why is Islam regarded as a way of life?
Has Islam been unfairly characterized on issues such as treatment of
women and emphasis on jihad, or holy war?
Activities:
1.Students will break into groups of 3-4 and jigsaw the following readings.(10
mins. reading time)
Reading A - “A Day in the Life of Sameer and Jamilia”.
Reading B – “Zara Goes to the Countryside”
2. Students will sketch different styles of Islamic dress, or attire.
3. Students will watch segments of PBS Empire of Faith.
The Importance of Sharia
The body of Islamic law is known
as the sharia. Much of it stems
from the Qur’an (Koran), or Muslim
holy book. In addition, Islamic law
is derived from the traditions and
sayings of the Prophet
Muhammad.
Among the notable tenets, or
principles of Islamic law are:
• Prohibition of the consumption of
alcohol or pork.
• Prohibition of adultery
• Promotion of modesty in dress
and behavior especially for women
Islam and Women:
Perceptions differ over the
treatment of women in Islamic
societies. Women are usually
expected to dress modestly and
wear a hijab or head covering.
In some cases women have to
remain in purdah or seclusion
even within the home. The
Qur’an permits polygamy, but
also allows a women to divorce
her husband.
Styles of veils include:
Abaaya – full length veil worn in
Arabian peninsula.
Niqab and Burkha are also full
facial veils.
Chador – head covering worn in
Iran
Muslim Women wearing abaaya in
Saudi Arabia
The Spread of Islam
The years following the death of
Muhammad saw the spread of Arabic
and Islamic civilization in Southwest
Asia and north Africa. Key cities
conquered included Cairo, Damascus,
Jerusalem and Baghdad.
Note that the Byzantine Empire, (a.k.a.
the Eastern Roman Empire), blocked
Islamic expansion into Eastern
Europe.
In Spain, Charles Martel stopped
Muslim expansion at the Battle of
Tours – 732 AD. Still, Arab Muslims –
locally known as Moors - ruled Spain,
known as Al Andalusia until 1492.
Their capital – Cordoba, and the
palace known as The Alhambra were
testimonies of Islamic grandeur.
Al Hambra “Red Palace” – Granada, Spain
Key Terms: caliph, jihad, reconquista
The Islamic World
The Islamic world is
far larger in size than
the Middle East itself.
Nations with
predominantly
Islamic populations
can be found
throughout Asia and
Africa.
Question: What
nation in the world
hosts the largest
number of Muslims?
Jerusalem
The holy city of Jerusalem
is sacred to all three
monotheistic faiths.
Pictured at right: Western
Wall, Church of the Holy
Sepulcher and the Dome
of the Rock, an important
Muslim mosque all lie in
Jerusalem.
Sunnis and Shi’a
In the late 7th century CE, a
major schism, or split arose
between Sunnis and Shia.
Sunnis supported a caliph
chosen by the community at
large, while Shia supported a
caliph that was a blood
descendant of Muhammad.
First Four Caliphs
Abu Bakr
Umar
Uthman
Ali (sons Hassan and Husayn)
Sunnis are the majority
and comprise 85% of
Muslims. Shi’a comprise
some 14% or so.
However, Shia are
majority in Iran and Iraq.
Ummayad and Abbasid Caliphates
For centuries caliphates, or dynasties ruled the Islamic world.
The Ummayad Caliphate ruled from Damascus, (680 – 750 CE)
The Abbasid Caliphate ruled during the “Golden Age” from
Baghdad, (751–1258 CE)
A Golden Age
The Abbasid era (751–1258), roughly
the time of the Middle Ages in the West’
is regarded as a golden age in Islamic
civilization.
During this period, Baghdad evolved
into a center of trade and learning.
Persian and Arab linguists oversaw the
translation of Greek and Roman
classics, while “houses of learning”
directed research in math and science.
Also notable from this period were the
literary achievements such as the
collection of stories known as the
Arabian Nights, or A Thousand and
One Nights.
Most of all, the Arabs expressed
themselves through architecture.
11th cent. page from Qur’an, Damascus
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ibn Battutta
Ibn Battutta was a Moroccan who left
home in 1325 and traveled for 30
years through north Africa, Turkey,
Arabia, Mesopotamia, China and
India. All in all he traveled some
75,000 miles – far more than Marco
Polo.
Toward the end of his travels, Ibn
Battutta visited Timbuktu, capital of
the empire of Mali. He left behind indepth description of the famous cities
that he visited in his memoirs known
as the Rihla.
See Saudi Aramco July/August 2000
Islamic architecture
borrowed from prior civilizations.
It was mostly expressed in the
form of mosque construction
which usually included arches,
minarets, domes, courtyards and
a sense of symmetry. Mosque
architecture also featured a highly
colorful and repetitive design
known as Arabesque.
Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo, Egypt
Abraham
Decline of the Abbasids
In the 11th century CE the Arab Abbasid
caliphate went into decline as nomadic
Seljuk warriors from central Asia took
control of their government.
Portrait of Saladin
Krak des Chevaliers –
The “Turkish” conquest of Anatolia
Crusader Castle in Syria
prompted calls for the Crusades in
Europe in 1095, and parts of the Islamic
world temporarily fell to European
control. In time, the Crusaders were
turned back by the Egyptian Mamluk
forces of Saladin who himself threatened
the Seljuk-Abbasid “hybrid regime”.
In the end, it was the Mongols, led by
Hulagu who dealt the last blow to the
Abbasids when they sacked Baghdad in
in 1258. Noteworthy is the fact that in
time, the Seljuks, Mongols and future
Ottoman invaders adopted the religion of
the conquered - Islam.
1258 Mongol Conquest of Baghdad
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire rose in the late
14th century. By 1453 it conquered the
Byzantine capital of Constantinople
which it renamed Istanbul. It went on
to rule key areas of the Middle East
and the Balkan peninsula, reaching its
height under the reign of Suleiman the
Magnificent (r. 1520 – 1556). Like its
Arab predecessors, the Ottomans
advanced Islamic civilization and
study.
The empire fell after WWI when it
sided with the losing Central Powers
(Germany and Austria-Hungary) and
left only with the modern nation of
Turkey.
At right: Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, built by Byzantine
emperor Justinian I AD in 537. It was later adapted for use as an
Islamic mosque and today houses a museum. Also illustrations
of Suleimanye Mosque and Suleiman the Magnificent.
Suleimanye Mosque