Transcript The Qin and Han Dynasty - Levittown School District

Ancient Arabia
Reference pages 372-378
The Empty Quarter: The world’s largest continuous body of sand. Some
parts have no rain for 10 years or more. It is located on the Arabian
peninsula.
The Arabian Peninsula
Desert stretches over the Arabian peninsula. Water is found only at oases.
Not all of Arabia is dry. In the southwest, enough rain falls to support plant
life. To survive, Arabs formed into clans and tribes who were loyal to one
another. The tribes head was called a sheikh.
The Middle East
Egypt- J
Oman- L
YemenN
Persian Gulf- D
Iran- A
Saudi Arabia- F
Arabian Sea- Q
Syria- R
Israel- E
Turkey-H
Caspian Sea- G
Red Sea- K
JordanP
United Arab Emirates- M
Mediterranean Sea- I
Kuwait- B
Iraq - C
Who are the Bedouins?
• Desert herders
• Traveled from oases to
oases to water and graze
their camels, goats, and
sheep
• Lived in tents
• Ate dried fruits and nuts
• Drank milk from their
animals
• Ate meat rarely – animals
were much too valuable
Daily Life in Early Arabia
Trade and
Towns
Many Arabs lived
in villages where
they farmed and
raised animals.
Some of the villagers
Were merchants who
transported goods
acrossed the desert.
To fend off attacks by
Bedouins, many
traveled in a
caravan.
The City of Makkah (Mecca)
• By about A.D. 500, Arabian merchants handled
most trade between India and the Mediterranean
Sea.
• As their trade grew, Arab merchants found
towns along the trade routes.
• Makkah became the largest and the richest of
them all.
• It was a crossroads for merchants, and was an
important religious site.
• The holiest place in Arabia was in this city…
The Kaaba- a low square building surrounded
by statues of gods and goddesses.
A Great Stone from Heaven…
• Located inside of the
Kaaba
• Pilgrims, people who
travel to a holy place,
flocked to Makkah.
• Early Arabians were
polytheistic.
• The most important
god was Allah, the
creator.
Muhammad: Islam’s Prophet
The prophet Muhammad
brought the message of Islam
to the people of Arabia after
meditating in the hills..
Islam means “surrendering to
the will of Allah.”
Allah is the Arabic word for
“God.”
Muhammad preached that all
people are equal and that the
rich should share their goods.
This message was well
received in Makkah, where
most people lived humbly.
The city of Makkah
• Birthplace of Muhammad
• Muhammad married a wealthy widow and
merchant, Khadija.
• This marriage gave Muhammad wealth
and respect in the busy city of Makkah.
• Makkah attracted many merchants
because it was on the main trading route.
• This city also attracted visitors because of
the Kaaba, Makkah’s temple.
Opposition to Islam
(pg. 375)
1. Who do you think opposed Muhammad’s
message and why?
2. Why did Muhammad and his followers
leave Makkah in A.D. 622?
3. Why is the year A.D. 622 significant to
Muslims?
4. What does the city Madinah mean?
5. Describe Muhammad’s government.
Islam’s Teachings
• The Quran provided guidelines for Muslims’ lives
and the governments of Muslim states.
The Five Pillars
1. Muslims must declare that there is no god but
Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Muslims must pray five times per day facing
toward the holy city of Makkah/Mecca.
3. Muslims must give to the poor.
4. Muslims must not eat from dawn to dusk during
the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Muslims must visit Makkah/Mecca once in their
life.
Islam
Judaism
All Three
Christianity