chapter 9.2 arabian peninsula and muhammad apwh 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 9.2Arabian Peninsula and
Muhammad
• APWH 2013
Review
• Religious conflicts existed between the proud Christian Byzantine Empire and Zoroastrian Sasanids
• Arab nomads benefit from conflict economically and intellectually
• Increased contact with Christians spreads knowledge into Arabian peninsula
Geography of Arabian Peninsula
• Highlands of Yemen in South, fertile and watered by spring monsoons.
• Interior mountains to east drier, but in some places enough water to support farming.
• Southern region cut off from northeast by Arabian desert.
• Known as “Empty Quarter”
• During 7th century, people in southern Arabia knew more about Africa, India and the Persian Gulf than about the center of the great peninsula!
Geographic Determinism• Traditional
occupation farming
• Camel and sheep herding nomads lived in the desert.
Caravan Trade
• Several kingdoms rose and fell due to trans-Arabian trade routes.
• Frankincense and myrrh exported north (Spice and perfume route).
• Pastoralists and Nomads acted as guides
• Providing camels and safe passage across desert.
Caravan Cities• Emerged along routes.• Petra in southern Jordan• Palmyra in northern
Syria• Ruled by Bedouin
chiefs• Absorbed by Roman
empire• New trade goods by
100 CE included Camels, leather, gold and minerals
Petra
Palmyra
Palmyra
Mecca
• Late blooming caravan city
• Halfway between Yemen and Syria
• 500 settled by nomadic group called Quraysh (koo-RYYSH)
• Location away from Byzantine Syria, Sasanid Iraq and Ethiopian controlled Yemen provided safety.
Muhammad• Born in Mecca 570• Raised as an orphan by
his uncle• Married and had several
children.• Only son died• Worked in trade• Married a Quraysh widow
named Khadija
Muhammad• Began meditating
around 610• During “Night of Power
and Excellence” is visited by an angel of God
• Conceived Islam after experiencing revelations from the angel Gabriel
• Revelations continue until his death.
Arab Spirituality
• Jinns - unseen desert spirits
• Shaitans - demons• Believed in oracles,
seers• Poets believed to be
possessed by a jinn
Muhammad’s Teaching1. One God created
everything2. At the end time all will
be judged by sins vs. good deeds.
3. The blameless go to paradise.
4. Sinful will taste hellfire
• Muslim - Means “one who makes submission to the will of God.”
• Revelations include mentions of Noah, Moses and Jesus
• Muslims consider Abraham/Ibrahim the first Muslim
• Muhammad’s revelations criticize Jews and Christians for not preserving God’s revealed words
• Islam means “submission/surrender to the will of God”.
Hijira• “Muhammad’s flight”• 622 Muhammad flees
from Mecca to Medina.• Meccan leaders were
threatened by his popularity and drove him out.
• Medina located 215 miles to North
• Date marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar
Umma• Before leaving for Medina,
major kin groups meet with Muhammad and promise to protect him.
• Binding themselves together into a single umma - unified community of believers that accepted Islam
• Believed that Muhammad was the “Messenger of God”
• Plans are made to return to Mecca and conquer it.
Ka’ba• Religious shrine
located in Mecca• Reason Muslims pray
towards Mecca• Mecca surrendered to
Medina and Muhammad because of wars led by Muhammad
• Mecca becomes a new state based on a common religious faith.
• Medina also becomes a Muslim city-state.
• Home to many Meccan refugees• Not all of Muhammad’s original
followers became Muslims.
Review and Preview• Foundations of Islam• 1. Geographic Determinism• 2. Muhammad’s life 570 - 632• 3. Caliphate established after death Quran created 650 Sunni v. Shi’ite split• 4. Umayyad Caliphate 661-750 = Spread of
Empire• 5. Abbasid Caliphate 747 – 850 = Iranian
Scholars create Islamic fundamentalism
Muhammad’s Death• 632 dies after brief
illness.• Father in law of
favorite wife A’isha chosen as new leader by kin group elders
• Abu Bakr - chosen as caliph after Muhammad’s death.
• Kalifa = successor (caliph)
Five Pillars • Abu Bakr assembles basic religious codes.
• Basis of Muslim religious practices
• 1. There is only one God and Muhammad is his messenger
• 2. Prayer 5 times a day• 3. Fasting during lunar
month of Ramadan• 4. paying alms• 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca
once in life
Quran
• Abu Bakr collects and organizes all the records of Muhammad’s teachings.
• Completed in 650• “Recitation”• Contains Muhammad’s
revelations from the arch angel Gabriel
• Seen by Muslims as the word of God
Islamic Split• After Muhammad’s death umma splits after
third caliph Uthman is assassinated in 656.• Sunnis - followers of the “tradition” of
the community.• Leadership picked by council of elders.• Shi’ites -supporters of Muhammad’s son
in law Ali. Supported by Muhammad’s son-in laws and military
Battle of the Camel
• 656 Ali (Shi ‘ites) defeats opposition – A’isha (Muhammad’s first wife) and two of Muhammad’s close friends (Sunni).
• Ali is betrayed and assasinated.
Battle of the Camel
• Ali’s son will also be assassinated
• Shi’ites – sect established by supporters of Ali.
• Will be supported by Muhammad’s relatives and military groups.