Middle East and Europe - The Caliphate in 750 (293K) "The Caliphate in 750."From The Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1926. taken from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/history_middle_east.html

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The Prophet is dead

When Muhammad dies in 632, his followers chose Abu Bakr (uh-BOO BAK uhr) as his successor.

Title of Caliph (KAY-luhf)

Abu was given this title that means “successor to the Prophet”.During his rule, he brought Arabic tribes together and expanded Islam's influence northward.

Umar (OO-mahr)

In 634 Umar succeeded Abu Bahr as caliph.

He was a strong leader with a well-run government.

He continued to conquer neighboring territories of non-Muslims.

Within 25 years of Muhammad's death, the Muslim Empire had spread to Syria, Persia (Iraq), and North Africa

Policies of Islam

In the early years, Islam was more tolerant to other cultures, not requiring them to convert to Islam.

Muslims called Christians and Jews, “people of the book”.

Muhammad had accepted the Bible and the Torah as part of God’s teachings.

However non conversion to Islam meant you paid higher taxes.

Expansion, Expansion, Expansion!

Within 100 years of Muhammad's death, Muslims had swept into part of India, and even into islands of the Mediterranean Sea

The Islamic community divides

The split began when Umar’s successor, Uthman (ooth-MAHN) was murdered Uthman was killed because the rebels believed he favored his own clan

The Martyrdom of Uthman In 'Affan The Third Caliph’

Next in line is Ali

Ali is chosen to succeed Uthman as Caliph but Uthman’s relative Muawiyah (mooh-AH-wee-ya) protests. War breaks out on both sides.In 661 A.D. Ali is assassinated, and Muawiyah became caliph.

Caliph Ali and His Two Sons" , 1962 , wool tapestry, 2m x 1.10m,

by Zeinab Babawi (born 1941)

The Split

Most Muslims agreed to accept Muawiyah is caliph. These Muslims eventually became

known as Sunni (SOOH-nee).

The Kabaa in Mecca

The Empire Continues to Spread

Despite the split, the Empire continues to grow.In711 A.D. a Berber general named Tariq crossed into Spain at The Straight of Gibraltar and conquered Spain quickly. After crossing the Pyrenees to raid central France, they were defeated by Charles Martel of the Franks at the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. and eventually withdrew from France.The Moors continued to rule parts of Spain for more than 700 years.

The Split

The Sunnis were followers of the Sunna, meaning “way of the Prophet” or “habitual practice”.The Sunnis believed that agreement among the Muslim people should settle religious matters.

The Shi’ah

Ali’s followers insisted that only descendants of Muhammad should be caliph.

This group later became known as the Shiah (Shee-ah).

Less than 10% of the worlds Muslims are Shiah

The Shiah believed that Ali’s descendants called imams (i-MAHMZ), should decide religious and worldly matters.

Later that Century…

Later another group within Islam developed.

Muslim mystics known as

Sufi.They tried to live simple lives based on God.

They turned away from worldly possessions and success.

Sufi holy men

The Empire changes leadership

The great era of Arab Muslim rule expansion lased until the 1100’s.

After that, the Turks became the ruling force in Islam.

Engagements between the Knights and Turks outside Rhodes - Caoursin 1480

The TurksThe Turks supported Islamic Law but their growing power shifted power away from the caliph.

A Sultan ruled the Turks and claimed to serve the caliph, who still played an important symbolic role

Portrait of Tipu Sultan