ISLAMIC EMPIRES11 – 2

The Spread of Islam

Successor to Muhammad

Caliph or successor to the messenger of god.

First four caliphs = “rightly guided caliphs” rule at Madinah

Umayyad caliphs rule from Damascus, Islam spreads

Islamic State

•Becomes a great empire b/c Arabs were good horsemen & good w/ a sword inspired by religion

•Muslims believe people who die fighting for Islam go to paradise

•Muslims let conquered people (non Muslims) practice their religion TAX $

•Many non-Muslims adopt Muslim customs

Muslim Teachings Spread

•Sufis = group of Muslims who spread Islam through teaching

•Arab merchants spread Islam throughout southeast Asia

•Indonesia = southeast Asia country w/ largest Muslim population

•Timbuktu = a West African city, center of Muslim learning

How did Muslims treat Christians and Jews who lived in their society?

•Muslims believed Christians and Jews to be people of the book (holy book, 1 God).

•Christians and Jews were not treated fairly and charged higher taxes.

Struggles within Islam

•Muhammad’s death = Two groups Sunnis & Shiites

•Shiites believed Ali (son in law) should rule and all future caliphs should be descendants

•Sunnis believe that the Umayyad caliphs were rightful leaders (two groups = separate customs)

•Abbasids defeated the Umayyad dynasty and made a new capital in Baghdad (center of trade)

Seljuk Turks Nomads & warriors / gradually took control of the Abbasid dynasty Ruler = sultan

Mongols • attacked and defeated the Arab Empire, ending its rule

w/ the burning of Baghdad

Later Muslim Empires

Ottoman Turks • North west Asia Minor built their empire & conquered

Constantinople • Change name to Istanbul. Moved around Europe,

Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Arabia, and North Africa

• The Moguls created a Muslim empire in India and made their capital in Delhi. Their greatest leader was Akbar.