The Spread of Islam

Objectives• Student will demonstrate

knowledge of Islamic civilization from about 600 to 1000 C.E. by• Assessing the influence of geography on Islamic economic, social, and political development, including the impact of conquest and trade• Identifying historical turning points that affected the spread and influence of Islamic civilization

• Essential Questions• How did geography influence the rapid expansion of territory under Muslim rule?• How did political and cultural geography facilitate trade and cultural activity in the early Islamic lands?•What were some turning points that marked the spread of and influence of Islamic civilization?

Rapid spread of Islam Islam swept across Arabian

Peninsula in 10 years between the Hijrah and Muhammad’s death Spread along trade routes

from Mecca and Medina Expanded great distances

despite geographical barriers

Appeal Clear and straightforward

requirements for human conduct

Firm promises of heavenly reward

All Muslims spoke Arabic

Conversion Non-violent

Toleration of Christian, Jews economically

Violent After Muhammad’s

death Caliphs urged jihads

“holy wars” to spread Islam

Succession of Muhammad• In 632 C.E., the prophet

Muhammad passed away without naming a successor

• The Muslim community elected Abu-Bakr as their new leader• Became the first caliph

• The first four elected caliphs used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s leadership to guide them• called the rightly guided caliphs• Used military force to assert

authority• Conquered the fertile crescent, parts

of the Byzantine and Persian empires• By 750 C.E. empire over 6,000 miles

• Reasons for military success• Faith of the Muslims soldiers• Armies were well-disciplined

and expertly commanded• Weakness of the Byzantine and

Persian empires• Persecution of Byzantine and

Persian populations• Saw Muslims as liberators

• Treatment of conquered peoples• Many conquered people

converted to Islam• Appeal, didn’t have to pay a poll

tax• Allowed others to retain

religion

The slowing of Islamic Expansion• 700s• Use of “Greek Fire” by Byzantines• Prevented Muslim army

from conquering Constantinople until 1453 C.E.

• 732 C.E.• Battle of Tours• Charles Martel• Stopped Muslim expansion into Europe

• Later Expansion• The Crusades• Jerusalem• Damascus

Internal Conflict• In 656 the third

caliph Uthman was murdered and triggered a civil war

• Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law became the 4th caliph• His rule was

challenged• Ali was murdered in

661 C.E.

• A family known as the Umayyads came to power• Set up a hereditary system

of succession• Moved capital to Damascus,

Syria• Some Arab Muslims were

angry that the Umayyad's abandoned the simple life and surrounded themselves with wealth and ceremony

• Led to a division in Muslim community

Division within Islam• A minority group

resisted Umayyad rule• This group called the Shi’a• Believed the caliph needed

to be a relative of Muhammad

• Those who followed the rule of the Umayyad became known as the Sunni• Followers of Muhammad’s

example

• A third group called the Sufi pursued a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path• Tried to achieve

direct contact with God through mystical means• Similar to Christian

or Buddhist monks

Sunni Shia (Shi’ite)• caliph should be

chosen by leaders of the Muslim community

• viewed caliphs as leaders, not religious authorities

• comprise 90% of Islam followers

• believed that the only true successor to Muhammad were descendants of Muhammad’s daughter and son-in-law (Fatima and Ali)

• believed descendants were divinely inspired

• most are located in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen

Rise of the Abbasid Dynasty• 750 C.E.• Shiites revolted against Umayyaads created own dynasty called “Abbassid” dynasty• Murdered remaining

members of Umayyad family• One escaped and set up a

dynasty in Spain, merged with Berber armies

•Moved new capital to Baghdad in 762 C.E.• Location on a key trade route

• Abbasid Dynasty• Built strong

bureaucracy • Sent diplomats

throughout the world• Caliphate would last

from 750 C.E. to 1258 C.E.• Baghdad fell to the

Mongols

Rival Groups• Independent

Muslim states continued to spring up in smaller regions

• Fatimid Dynasty• Named after Muhammad’s daughter Fatima• Began in North Africa and spread from Red Sea to western Arabia and Syria

Muslim Trade Network• Two major trading sea

trading zones• Mediterranean Sea• Indian Ocean

• Land network connected to the silk road• Contacts from China to

Europe and Africa

• Unification of Muslim world• Single language- Arabic• Currency- Abbasid dinar

• To encourage flow of trade, Muslims set up banks throughout the empire• Early forms of credit

and checks