Transcript Caliphs of Islamic Empire

Caliphs of Islamic Empire
Conquest, dynasties, and exansion
Caliph
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“successor to Muhammad”
Expanded territory of Islam
1st Caliph
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Muhammad dies in 632
Followers chose successor
Abu Bakr
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1st Caliph
Daughter was one of
Muhammad’s wives
Friend of Muhammad
Arab Conquest
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Islamic movement grew much during Abu Bakr’s reign
Romans expanding Italy, Muslims expanding Arabia
Conquest encouraged by Quran
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Jihad=defensive warfare
Next Caliph
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Abu Bakr died
No clear successors
Umar A-Khattah was 2nd
caliph
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Assassinated
Uthmar was 3rd caliph
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Assassinated
Umayyads
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Civil war
Supporters of Abu Bakr vs. supporters of Muawwiyyah
Muaw becomes caliph
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Known for his virtue
“I never use my sword when my whip will do, nor my whip
when my tongue will do”
Made office of caliph hereditary
Moved capital from Medina to Damascus
Beginning of Umayyad dynasty
Umayyad Dynasty
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Conquest
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Conquered people along Mediterranean coast of northern Africa
Soldiers scene as ideal citizens
Those defeated kept land but paid rent to Muslims
Attempted attack on Constantinople to defeat Byzantine Empire
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Muslims lost
Uneasiness would continue between 2 empires
Split in Islam
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Revolt
Shiite Muslims
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Muhammad appointed successor
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'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's
daughter Fatimah
Believe in free will
Sunni Muslims
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Follow hadiths (teachings to go along with
Quran)
Believe Muhammad appointed no successor
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Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favored wife,
'A'ishah (elected by people of Medina)
Believe human actions are controlled by Allah’s
will
Majority in Muslim world today
Abbasid Dynasty
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750-Abu al-Abbas (descendant of Muhammad’s uncle)
overthrew Umayyad dynasty
Built new capital city at Bagdad
All Muslims could hold both civil and military office
Haran al-Rashid
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Best known of caliphs
“Golden Age of Abbasid dynasty”
Known for his charity
Supported artists and writers
Abbasid Dynasty
Same Problems
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Fighting over successor
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Vast wealth led to financial corruption
Shortage of qualified Arabs for key positions
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Harun al-Rashid’s sons fought to succeed him
Almost destroyed city of Bagdad
Recruited Persians and Turks
Rulers of provinces broke away and formed independent
dynasties
Seljuk Turks
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Converted to Islam
Prospered as soldiers during Abbasid dynasty
Moved in on Arab empire
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1055 took over Bagdad
Sultan “holder of power”
Mongols
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Led by Genghis Khan
Advanced across Asia and Middle East
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Destroyed everything in their path
Reached Red Sea
Eventually converted to Islam and intermarried with local
peoples
End of great Arab Empire
Review:
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Another name for a successor of Muhammad is:
1. Umayyad
2. Mosque
3. Caliph
4. Shiite
Review:
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What are the two major sects of Islam?
1. Abbasid and Umayyad
2. Sunni and Shiite
3. Abu Bakr and Muaw
4. Muhammadism and Muslim
Review:
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Which Islamic Dynasty would have experienced a “golden
age”? (Remember, a golden age is a time with great
intellectual, artistic, and societal achievements –Athens
during Pericles’ reign)
1. Muhammad
2. Umayyad
3. Seljuk Turks
4. Abbasid