The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why?

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why?

Reasons for the Spread of Islam Common Language (Arabic) spoken throughout

the Middle East Strong Military

Weakened state of Byzantine and Persian Empires allowed for Muslims to conquer these territories

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why?

Treatment of conquered people Allowed others to practice their

own faith, but you had to pay a special tax Qur’an forbids forced conversion

If you freely converted you were exempt from a higher tax rate

Possibility of social mobilityPeople all are creations of Allah,

so they are all equal

Taxation under the Umayyads

The Spread of Islam: Where? How? Why?

Trade Cultural Diffusion People exposed to Islamic beliefs and embrace Islam’s

message Regions

Middle East by end of 600s via conquest North Africa by late 600s via trade & conquest Spain and Sicily by 700s via conquest India by 700s via trade & conquest Southeast Asia by the 1200s via trade

Bedouins Middle Eastern desert dwelling nomads who helped spread Islam through their camel-raising trade

Why Not Western Europe?

The Battle of Tours (732 A.D.) Christian Franks under Charles Martel were

able to repel Muslim forces in France. Preserved Christianity as the religion of

Western Europe

The Abbasids

Non-Muslims had grown dissatisfied with the Umayyads for the following Paying higher taxes than Muslims Social discrimination Lower wages in the army &

government Anti-Umayyad forces overthrow

the empire Abbasid Empire established

under Caliph Abu’l-Abbas

Abbasids

Empire reaches it’s height under Harun al-Rashid

Life in the Abbasid Islamic state Sophisticated urban civilization develops Capital moved to Baghdad Better treatment of non-Muslims Leads to Islamic golden age

Abbasids

Fall of the Abbasids Conquered by Seljuk

Turks (recently converted Muslims) Allowed Abbassids to

still oversee the religion, but Seljuks controlled state affairs.

Abbassids aren’t completely defeated until Chinggis Khan captures Baghdad in 1258.