The Spread Of

Islam

100%Islam

Crisis• Muhammad dies

in 632 • Muslims now had

to find a new leader

• Muhammad did not name a successor

Solution• Muslims chose

Abu-Bakr who was a loyal friend of Muhammad

• He became the first Caliph

• Caliph – (kay-lif) means successor or deputy

Abu-Bakr• After Muhammad died some

Muslims…–Refused to pay taxes–Tried to say they were

prophets themselves–Some tribes abandoned Islam

• In order to get things under control, Abu-Bakr used the military to get authority.

Muslim State• By the time Abu died, the Muslim state

controlled all of Arabia• Under the next 2 caliphs they took:

–Syria –Lower Egypt–Parts of Persia

• By 750 they controlled from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River (2x the width of the USA!!)

Muslim Troops• They were

successful because they were–Willing to struggle till

the end for Islam–Well disciplined–Expertly commanded

• Enemies were not used to their style of warfare

Byzantine and Persia

• The Byzantines and Persia were already weak from long time conflicts

• The people welcomed Islam

Treatment of Conquered People• Muslims were tolerant of conquered

people• The Quran forbids forceful conversion

–They let others keep their religion if they paid a poll tax

–People who did not convert were not allowed to spread their own religions

• Pg 319