Transcript Homework due today also

Homework due today also
• Slightly different, we will check homework first!
• Correct any mistakes on your quiz. It will be checked
today in class.
• Go through your notes and make sure you have all
of these assignments in your notebook.
• Pull out that work now.
Homework
• Due today:
• Answer the following questions (meaning write out
the question and your response):
• 1. Should Muhammad have appointed a successor?
• 2. Should Islam have a leader, or leaders like the
Catholic Church does?
• Due on Monday – write a response at least ¾ of a page.
The UN is possibly going to vote on legislation that
would make it illegal to speak badly of Islam. President
Obama has yet to come out for or against. Write a brief
letter explaining which way you feel our government (or
your government) should vote.
Do Now
• The value of a quality education!
Quick review
• With the use of your notes, what is the main difference
between the Sunni & the Shi’a sects of Islam?
• After Muhammad’s death Abu-Bak took over.
• Abu-Bak declared a “jihad” meaning struggle, because
many tribes abandon Islam and other tribes stopped paying
taxes. Abu-Bak used it to expand Islam’s influence.
• By Abu-Bak’s death, Islam covered / controlled all of the
Arab Peninsula.
• Under the next Caliphate (Umar), Muslim armies
conquered Syria & Lower Egypt. These were controlled by
the Byzantine Empire.
Review
• Under the next two Caliphates, Islam controlled 6000
miles from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Their success was due to a few factors:
• 1. They were well organized, well trained and well lead.
• 2. The Empires they battled were in slow decline and so
very weak and unable to defend themselves.
• 3. The Byzantine & Sassanid Empires were harsh rulers.
People saw Islam as much less oppressive.
• 4. Those that converted to Islam, did not pay taxes so many
people converted. Those that did not convert were free to
practice, but had to pay a tax.
Internal Conflicts
• Internal Conflicts
• In 656, Uthman was murdered sparking a civil war.
Remember, in Islam there is not suppose to be a leader, but
Islam was under attack and this caused internal conflict
too.
• Ali was Muhammad’s cousin as well as his son in-law and
seemed to be the natural successor but was challenged by
Muawiya, governor of Syria. Ali was eventually
assassinated too. The system to choose the Caliph ended
too.
• The family Umayyads took control of Islamic Empire. They
moved capital to Damascus. Easier to control the
conquered people & territories, but caused divisions.
Internal Conflicts
• The Arab Muslims resented the move and felt the
Umayyads were abandoning the simple life that the
Caliphs established and began to collect wealth. This
along with the lack of leadership gave rise the
division within Islam.
• Sunni – Shi’a Split
• Most Muslim accepted Umayyads authority but another
group refused to accept their authority. They
developed a different office of the Caliph. This new
view stated the Caliph needed to be a descendant of
Muhammad. They were called Shi’a (translates to
“party”). Collectively called Shi’ites
Internal Conflicts
• Those that followed the Umayyads were called Sunni,
meaning followers of Muhammad’s example.
• Another group, the Sufi rejected the Umayyads
especially their wealth seeking lifestyle. They sought
a simplifier lifestyle and devotion to a spiritual
lifestyle.
• The Abbasids over threw the Umayyads and took
control of the empire.
Islam expands
• The Abbasids were brutal to the Umayyads, killing as
many as they could find. Prince Abd-al-Rahman escaped
and went to Spain where he set up a new Umayyad
caliphate. Spain was controlled by Muslims from
North Africa, known as the Berbers. The Berbers
eventually settled in Southern Spain and established
al-Andalus.
• Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad (current day
Iraq. Design to have access to the trade routes.
• Well developed government with a treasury, defense
department. A system where Ambassadors went to other
countries to represent the Abbasid’s government.
Islam expands
• Like any government, it needs money to run. The
Abbasid’s set up a system of taxing land, items imported &
exported as well taxing non-Muslim’s wealth.
• Like other empires, their down fall was their vastness.
• Smaller states within the Empire began to acquire power
over regions.
• The Fatimid Caliphate by the Shi’a. They spread to North
Africa and towards the Red Sea / Middle East.
• The Muslims controlled the Mediterranean Sea Trade &
Indian Ocean, they also controlled the land routes to Asia
especially the silk trade with China.
Islam expands
• Because of the empire trading was easier because of
the common language, the currency and the banks.
The banks could establish credit called “sakks.”
These could be used like a check which is what it
was eventually called in Europe.
• Although Europe seemed to be modernized first, it was
actually the Muslim world.