Transcript The Muslim World Chapter 10 – Sections 2 & 3

The Muslim World
Chapter 10 – Sections 2 & 3
Use this information and
your notes to help you
understand
important
concepts/ideas/information
“Rightly Guided Caliphs”
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Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali – all had known
Muhammad
Used Qur’an and Muhammad’s teachings as guides
to leadership
Rule was called a “caliphate” – they were elected to
lead the people in the ways of Islam.
After Muhammad’s death, some people abandoned
Islam and/or refused to pay taxes.
“Rightly-Guided” Caliphs
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As a result of this dissent, Abu-Bakr invoked
“jihad” which means “striving.” (Remember
the firefighter’s words in the video about this
concept? – inner struggle against evil) The
word is also used in the Qur’an to mean an
armed struggle against unbelievers. AbuBakr applied this meaning to encourage and
justify the expansion of Islam
“Rightly-Guided” Caliphs
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All the caliphs used military might to expand
the ideas of Islam.
By 750 A.D. (this started about 632 A.D.) the
Muslim state controlled 6,000 square miles of
territory. (Remember your
geography/mapping activity?)
Conquer – but co-exist
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Muslims allowed conquered peoples to follow
their own religion with Christians and Jews
receiving special consideration because they
were “people of the book.” All paid taxes, but
Christians and Jews could pay to exempt
themselves from military duty.
Internal Conflict and the Umayyads
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Although Muslims made great gains on the
battlefield, they were conflicted amongst
themselves. A civil war broke out, and the
concept of having an “elected” caliph was
ended. The Umayyads then came to power.
Umayyads moved the Muslim capital to
Damascus and surrounded themselves with
wealth – very unlike previous caliphs.
The Sunni-Shi’a split
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Many Muslims accepted Umayyad rule, but some
continued to resist.
Muslims split into separate groups because they
disagreed about who should have succeeded
Muhammad.
Sunni – believe first four caliphs were “rightly guided”
Shi’a – believe that Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali
should have succeeded him
Sufi – reject luxury – pursue life of poverty and
devotion to a spiritual path.
Umayyads lose power to Abassids in 750.
Out with the Umayyads – In with the
Abassids!
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The Umayyads are ruthlessly slaughtered,
but one prince escapes, Abd Al-Rahman and
flees to Spain – remember the video?! What
does he do there?
Abassids move capital from Damascus to
Baghdad which is on a key trade route
offering them better access to trade goods,
gold and information. (see page 261)
Innovations of the Muslims
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Treasury keeps track of the flow of money
Special department manages the army
Diplomats are sent to courts in Europe, Africa
and Asia to conduct imperial business (not
courts of law – but what kind of court?)
Taxed land, imports, exports and muslim
wealth (see taxes have been around
FOREVER!)
Economic Innovations
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What do we mean by “economic”?
Muslim banks offered letters of credit called
“sakks.” In Europe, the word was
pronounced as “checks.”
Had a single currency – the Abassid “dinar”.
Get this currency and speak Arabic and you
could trade anywhere in the empire!
Muslim Culture
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Al-jabr is Algebra – lucky for you the Muslims
thought of Algebra, huh?! It is the “art of bringing
together unknowns to match a known quantity.”
House of Wisdom – located in Baghdad it is a
combination of a library, academy and translation
center. Its purpose was to translate all of the
important scholarly works to Arabic. Scholars of
different cultures and beliefs worked side-by-side to
achieve this.
Muslim Art
Does not contain images of living beings.
 Is colorful and intricate
 Includes calligraphy, arabesque decoration
and mosaics.
Pattern in Islamic Art
Islamic Architecture
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The usual ending….
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