Transcript The Arab empire - cloudfront.net

CHAPTER 9 LESSON 1: THE FIRST MUSLIMS
The Arabs
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In the 7th century the Arabs arose in the Arabian Peninsula and spread their
influence throughout Western Asia and beyond, especially once camels were
domesticated and a new trade route was established through Mecca to Yemen.
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They were nomadic, tribal and polytheistic
- each tribe was ruled by a sheik who was chosen from on the leading families
by a council of elders.
- they recognized a supreme god, Allah, but also believed in other tribal gods.
Allah was symbolized by a sacred stone and each tribe had its own stone, but
ALL tribes worshipped the black stone (meteorite) which in the Kaaba at
Mecca.
THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD
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Born in Mecca to a merchant family
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Became a caravan manager and married a rich widow named, Khadija
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He became troubled by the growing gap between the generosity of most Meccans
and the greediness of the wealthy elite. He began visiting the hills to meditate
and received a revelation from God.
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The Angel, Gabriel, told Muhammad to recite what he heard and these revelations
become the 14 chapters of the Quran- ethical guidelines and laws by which the
followers of Allah are to live.
MUHAMMAD CONTINUED…..
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Muhammad knew of the Jewish and Christian traditions and had believed that
Allah already revealed himself through Moses and Jesus, but once Gabriel
appeared to him he then believed the final revelations were given to him.
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Many were surprised at Muhamad’s claims to be a prophet and after 3 years he
only had 30 followers. Discouraged due to persecution and failure they moved to
Medina.
- Their journey from Mecca to Medina is known as the Hijrah.
- In Medina he began to win support from the people.
MUHAMMAD CONTINUED………
Muslims (those who practice the religion of Islam) saw no separation between
political and religious authority. For this reason Muhammad became both a
religious and political leader. Muhammad also put together a reliable military
force to defend himself and his followers.
In 630 AD Muhammad returned to Mecca with 10,000 men.
The city quickly surrendered and most people converted to Islam.
Two years after his return to Mecca, Muhammad died.
Even now all Muslims are strongly encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Mecca known
as the hajj.
THE TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD
Muhammad’s teachings offer salvation and hope of afterlife as long as you subject
yourself to Allah’s will.
One of the main differences between Islam and Christianity is the belief that its first
preacher was not divine, but man- unlike Jesus.
To obey the will of Allah you must practice the central acts of worship known as the
Five Pillars of Islam
- Belief
- Prayer
- Charity
- Fasting
- Pilgrimage
In addition to the 5 pillars, Muslims must practice traditions of honesty and justice in
dealing with others.
CHAPTER 9 LESSON 2: THE ARAB EMPIRE AND
THE CALIPHATES
Creation of an Arab Empire
After Muhammad’s death Muslims scholars developed shari’ah law- regulates daily
lives including family life, business practices, government and moral conduct.
Muhammad’s death led to the creation of the Islamic caliphate as he left no living
sons and only one daughter.
The first caliph or successor of Muhammad as a spiritual and temporal leader of the
Muslims was Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father in law and a wealthy merchant. He
had served as a chief advisor to Muhammad and journeyed with him to Medina in
622 AD.
CREATION OF THE ARAB EMPIRE
Under Abu Bakr’s leadership, the Islamic movement and the caliphate grew and the
Muslim world united and expanded through conquest.
One important duty in the Quran is for Muslims to wage jihad- refers to the Muslim
duty to work for the triumph of Islam in the world and within themselves.
“Struggle in the way of God”
Understanding of the term has changed over time, but for early Muslims it did mean
an armed struggle against non-believers. Jihad was used to justify war within
Islam when Muslims disagreed with one another.
It is controversial today because terrorists use the term to justify their actions.
Regardless, jihad did play a role in the decisions of early Muslim leaders to attack
neighboring kingdoms and build the Arab Empire. The courage of the Arab
soldiers was enhanced by the belief that Muslim warriors were assured a place in
paradise if they died in battle.
CREATION OF THE ARAB EMPIRE CONTINUED….
After Abu Bakr died problems arose over who would succeed him. Many caliphs following
Bakr were assassinated.
In the conquered territories there were peaceful interactions among Muslims, Christians and
Jews. They were allowed to practice their faith, but those who chose to do that and not
convert to Islam were required to be loyal to Muslim rule and pay special taxes.
Other regulations included a ban on:
- riding horses
- carrying weapons
- building/repairing places of worship
- religious practice in public
They were also, at times, required to wear special clothes or badges to indicate their second
class status within the Muslim society.
Ali, Muhammad’s son in law and 3rd caliph.
THE UMAYYADS
661 AD
- Mu awiyah becomes caliph
- He is the governor of Syria and Ali’s chief rival
He moves quickly to make the caliphate hereditary in his own family. By doing this he
created the Umayyad Dynasty.
Once this was achieved he moved the capital of the Arab Empire from Medina to
Damascus.
The Great Mosque of Damascus, holiest building of the
Muslim world after Mecca and Medina.
UMAYYAD CONQUEST
By 710 AD Muslim forces threatened Europe and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar
occupying southern Spain.
By 725 AD most of Spain had become a Muslim state, but they were defeated at the
Battle of Tours in Gaul and pushed back.
They also attacked Constantinople, but the Byzantines were able to defeat them. By
750 AD Arab advancement had come to an end in Europe, but the Umayyad
Dynasty now ruled an enormous empire…..
A SPLIT IN ISLAM
Despite the success of Umayyad, internal struggles threatened the empire’s stability
along with financial troubles and difficulties in the frontiers being maintained
from a capital far away.
These frontier regions began developing their own power which threatened the
caliphate.
The second son of Ali, Hussein, led a revolt in 680 AD, but many of his soldiers
defected leaving him with 72 soldiers against 10,000 Umayyad soldiers. This
struggle over who should rightfully rule in Islam created the split between Shia
and Sunni Muslims.
Video: Crash Course, “Islam, the Quran and Five Pillars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8
THE ABBASID DYNASTY AND THE SELJUK TURKS
Resentment against Umayyad rule grew among non-Arab Muslims over the favoritism
shown to Arabs and their corrupt behaviors.
Abu al-Abbas overthrew the Umayyad in 750 AD and established a new caliphateAbbasid Dynasty
In 762 AD, they built a new capital city at Baghdad. The move eastward increased
Persian influence and encouraged a new cultural outlook.
They tried to break down the distinctions between Arab and non-Arab Muslims. All
Muslims could now hold both civil and military offices. Intermarriage began to occur
amongst the varying ethnic groups creating a cosmopolitan culture (a place or area
that contains several different cultures and groups).
Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate was under the reign of Harun al-Rashid.
ABBASID CONTINUED…..
Baghdad became the center of a large trade empire that helped spread products and
knowledge from the Islamic world to Asia, Africa and Europe. It was a period of
growing prosperity and during this time the caliph became more regal and the
bureaucracy more complex.
A council headed by a prime minister known as a vizier advised the caliph.
Despite its prosperity there was much fighting over the succession to the caliphate
when al-Rashid died. His two sons fought to succeed him almost destroying the
city of Baghdad.
Some other issues that led to the Abbasid’s decline:
THE SELJUK TURKS
Nomadic people from Central Asia
Converted to Islam and prospered as soldiers for the Abbasid Caliphate
As the Abbasid grew weaker the Seljuk’s grew stronger moving into Iran and Armenia.
By the 11th century they had taken over the eastern provinces of the Abbasid Empire
and by 1055 captured Baghdad.
By 1071 they captured Jerusalem and by the late 1090’s threatened Constantinople
and the Byzantine Empire. This led to a military response by the Christian
world…………CRUSADES.
CHAPTER 9 LESSON 3: ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
Prosperity in the Islamic World
- Extensive trade both by ship and camel caravans and exposure to different good
and the rise of prosperous cities all led to the prosperity of Islam.
Bazaar- covered market
- Crucial part of every Muslim city or town
- Trading center, services, shops
ISLAMIC SOCIETY
According to Islam, all Muslim people are equal in the eyes of Allah, but this did not translate
to reality.
- Well defined upper class
- Non-Muslims were not equal
- Slavery was widespread
The Role of Women
- The Quran granted women spiritual equality with men. Women had the right to the fruits
of their work and to own and inherit property.
- Every woman had a male guardian
- Marriages were arranged
- Men had more than one wife (no more than 4), but the men had to provide the
dowry therefore many could only afford one wife
- Women were required to cover virtually all parts of their bodies, like today, but this is
actually an ARAB custom not a practice outlined by the Quran.
Video: The Hijab
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=sobFJShtuO
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PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE AND HISTORY
The Arab world actually translated and had more knowledge of the great Greek minds
of Plato and Aristotle more so than Christian Europe.
With paper-making coming out of China, paper factories emerged in Baghdad with
booksellers and libraries soon following.
Arabs adopted the numerical system of India, including the use of zero. (Still used
today, Algebra developed)
Perfected the astrolabe- instrument used by sailors to determine their location by
observing the positions of the stars. These make it possible for Europeans to sail
to the Americas.
LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
The Quran = greatest literary work
Arabesques- geometric patterns repeated over and over to completely cover a surface
with decoration.
The Hadith- an early collection of Muhammad’s sayings. Warns against any attempt to
imitate God by creating pictures of living beings.
LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Great Mosque of Samarra (Iraq)
- built 848-852 AD
- largest of its time, covering 10 acres
- most famous section is the minaret- tower of mosque where muezzin calls the
faithful to prayer.
- muezzin- crier who calls the Muslim faithful to prayer from the minaret of a
mosque.
Because Muslim religion unites spiritual and political power many palaces and
castles were built reflecting that unity and the glory of Islam.