Transcript Spread of Islam

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Take the next 15 minutes to work on
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answer the questions on Muhammad.
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Spread of Islam
Islam Unit
How does Islam spread?
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Spreads mainly along trade routes (Fertile Crescent,
Iran, and Central Asia).
3 other factors helped spread:
1. Weakness of Persian and Byzantine Empires
2. Political unity of Muslims
3. Use of Arabic by all Muslims
http://www.sakkal.com/instrctn/
Arabic_Numerals.html
Not an Overnight Process
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After 3 years, Muhammad probably
had 30 followers.
By the time he died, there were nearly
100,000 followers!
So How Does It Spread?
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“People were willing to accept the
Muslims because they were fed up
with the previous rulers.”
What rulers?
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The Byzantines!
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What religion are they?
Are they tolerant of others?
Reynard, Joh. In the Footsteps of Muhammad: Understanding the Islamic Experience.
So What Was Their Trick?
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The Muslims are more tolerant of other
beliefs.
They enforced that the people spoke
Arabic, but allowed them to serve in the
government.
They were rich and allowed people to
learn whatever they wanted.
This allows them to expand over great
distances, through deserts, mountains,
and other geographical obstacles.
Muslim Expansion
http://www.morainevalley.edu/ctl/MiddleEast/images/Map_Early%20Islamic%20Expansion.jpg