Islam

Islam

Umayyad Empire Develops

Islam Divides

• Islam spreads east across Egypt
• Moves through Northern Africa and into Spain (711 Moors)
• Tries to move into France but fights Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours (731)
• Pretty good to live under. Religion was not oppressed but taxed instead.
• Many converted on their own free will
• Problems come with expansion
• Need new ways to rule, Wealth not distributed equally and disagree of who should rule

• 2 sects form after Muhammad Death similar to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox
• Shiites
• Believe that Ali, Muhammad's son in law should rule
• thought that the decedents of Ali should rule
• Sunni
• Believed that any good Muslim could rule
• Rulers were called Caliphs

Muhammad's Return

• In Yathrib (later named Medina or "city of the prophet") Mohammad gets more followers
• Brought peace to Medina
• Returns to Mecca and destroys polytheistic idols and makes Kaaba a church for Islam
• Muhammad died soon after but Islam spreads

Abbasids Empire

• Abu Al-Abbas has support of Shiite community and non-Arab Muslims
• Overthrows Umayyad
• Equality to all Muslims
• Moved capital from Damascus to Baghdad
• Not as militarily focused as Umayyad
• civilization flourishes

Muhammad

Daily Prayer:

Pray five times a day while facing Mecca

Alms for the poor:

Muslims must give charity to

the poor

Fast During Ramadan:

Don't eat during the day on the holy month of Ramadan

Declaration of Faith:

There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of god

Hajj:

Muslims who are able will take a

pilgrimage to the Kaaba like

Muhammad

• Muhammad was a successful trader in the area who married a rich widower
• One day the angel Gabriel came to Muhammad and told him that he would be the messenger of God
• Muhammad's wife convinces him to accept the calling
• However Mecca doesn't like what Muhammad is saying since he may undermine Kaaba
• They kick Muhammad and followers out which is known as the Hijra

The Core of Islam

Foundations of Islam

• Mecca was a huge trading outpost in the arabian desert
• Many different traders would go through Mecca to trade goods since it was a safe place
• Kaaba center of town that housed many gods and goddesses of the region
• People would make pilgrimages to Mecca to see Kaaba and this made Mecca rich