The Spread of Islam

Origins of Islam

• Why was the Arabian Peninsula both a likely and unlikely place to start a religion???

•Geography – desert

•People – –Bedouins–Tribal–No unity

•Strategic location

Unlikely

Likely

Located bwn 3 continents & major waterways

Changes during Late Classical Period

• Towns and Cities emerge in Arabia

**

*

*

•Role of Arab Merchants

•Growth of Arabic language

•Materialistic culture emerges

Literacy and Education increases

•Fall of Rome

Islam as a “Unifier”

• Distinctly Arabic• Ended feuding tribes• Source of Authority• Equality and a moral code• Trade and profit making

Islamic ExpansionWhy conquest? *Unity gave confidence*Chance for valuable lands/trade

First Commanded by MuhammadFollowed by the first Caliphs

*Drought in Arabia*Seek Converts

Why was it successful?• Quick, Agile Army• Weak Surrounding Empires• Taxing policies insured loyalty and

revenue• 2 Organized Arab Dynasties:

Umayyad and Abbasid

Islam

Arab

Succession Issues

Corruption

Goals

Toleration Record

Expansion and Conquest, reap rewards

Expand trade, solidify Muslim faith

Favoritism toward Arabs leads to resentment/revolts

Friendly toward Non-Arabs, Intermarriage encouraged ,Recruited in Army

CapitalPolitical center was Damascus-central location

Political center was Baghdad-located along key trade/water routes

Political StructureCaliph was a religious leader. Family as advisors

Caliph as absolute ruler. Complex bureaucracy led by Vizier

Using Islam as a unifier and a military to expand, the Arabs built a strong empire where trade and a general toleration was valued

Global Network of TradeFacilitated by:

Impact:

Bills of Exchange

Credit/Checks

Minting coins

New foods (bananas and citrus) and agricultural techniques (irrigation)

Crops transplanted (i.e. sugar from SE Asia)

Problems within the Empire

1. Issues of Succession*After the death of Muhammad*Rightful heir?

*Arab v. Non-Arab?

Division EmergesSunnisForwardMajorityAnyone can

assume role of caliph

Shi’a (Shiite)FundamentalistsMinorityClaim to be direct

descendants to Muhammad-Only they can be caliph

2. Empire grew too big

•Rebellious governors

•Ruling a diverse people

RESULTS: • By 1000 Abbasids were crumbling• Other cultural influences takeover

ArabsPersians, Turks, Mongols

Islamic Cultural Dynamism

End of Arab Dominance

Pick 2 achievements of the Muslim World and connect them to a theme:

-Development of Social Systems

-Creation and Expansion of 1.

Economic Systems

-State Building, Expansion and

Conflict 2.

-Human-Environment Interaction

-Cultural Interaction

Complete the following Analogy

What the birth and growth of Islam (Idea) did for the Arabs (people)…

_____________________ (Idea) did for the__________________(people) because they both

____________________________________

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