THE ORIGINS OF ISLAM“Allah” they wanted was a place to call

their own

THINGS TO KNOW

Flight of Muhammad Quraysh tribe Abbasid Sunni and Shi’ite Mecca Ka’ba Quran Five Pillars Halal Hajj

THE ORIGINS OF ISLAM Perfect storm

socially and geographically

Pastoralists in the South were isolated

Nomads who protected the Sassanids

Surrounded by rivers and deserts

PRIOR TO MUHAMMAD

Completely isolated Completely isolated Completely isolated Completely isolated (Get the Point?!?!) Knew more about Africa & India than

the Arabian Peninsula

TRADE

Nomads were guides and protected caravans through this region

No use of chariots, all camel power Led to the creation of independent cities Spread of culture and

ideas (sound familiar?)

MECCA

Settled by the Quraysh in the fifth century

So far away that no one can attack it.

MUHAMMAD 570 CE-632 CE

Born in Mecca he was orphaned very early and illiterate

Worked primarily as a merchant and would often retreat to a cave for prayer

At 40, while praying the angel Gabriel came to him and asked him to read Illiterate he began reading the Quran

Began preaching the “One God” and “complete surrender” creating Islam Did not become a Jew or Christian as he

felt many were living an unfit and unglorified lifestyle

MUHAMMAD 570 CE-632 CE

Many moral and social declines in Arab society at this time and Islam created a unified Arabian empire

However, he caused disruption in the order of things and gained many enemies within Mecca

He and his followers had conflicts with various factions until he is forced to flee in 622 to Medina

After years of conflict he finally returned to Mecca with an army and retook the city solidifying it into a unified Muslim empire

AFTER MUHAMMAD By death most the Arabian Peninsula had

converted to Islam which unified the region, and he was seen by Muslims as God’s last prophet on Earth

Succession issues: After death followers were divided on whom should be next caliph Abu Bakr- (Sunni) His father-in-law and

advisor in Islam, followers believed a true follower of Muhammad and Islam should be Caliph. He would win majority vote

Ali Ibn Abi Talib- (Shi’ite) His cousin and daughter’s husband. This sect believed only blood family should receive position of Caliph

KA’BA Most sacred site of

Islam Built by Abraham and

his son Ishmael Muhammad changes

everything Changes from many

idols within to only Allah

Makes part of daily life of prayer and part of Hajj

Thought to be the first and oldest Mosque in Islamic history

RISE OF THE ABBASID

Overthrow of the last Umayyad in 750 Ruled until the Mongol takeover in 1258 Quickly befriended Ali’s family Capital city was Baghdad Often called the “golden age” due to

advances in literature and math

RISE OF THE ABBASID

Used mamluks, Turkish slaves, as a standing army

Effective but expensive Mamluks would overthrow caliphs and

put those in who favored them Buyid tribe princes took over. Heavy

influence over the caliph.

INDIA

Turks brought to India Located in the NW 3rd largest group after

Persians and Arabs Smashed Buddhist and Hindu temples Untouchables and lower castes liked Islam Rise of Sikhism, one god (Islam) with karma

and rebirth 20% Muslim

ANATOLIA

90% Muslim More native speakers Smaller population Sufi mysticism spread

WEST AFRICA

As well as Ghana, Songhai and Malian Empires

Legitimacy with scribes and hajj participants

Timbuktu was the educational capital of Islam

Prominent with elite

SPAIN

Muslims, Jews, and Christians live in Cordoba peacefully in the beginning

10th and 11th centuries warring started and Muslim controlledpower strengthened

Reconquista in 1200Christians regainedcontrol