Chapter 6

The World of Islam (600-1500)

Map Quiz

• Turkey• Syria• Iraq• Iran• Lebanon• Israel• Jordan

• Yemen• Saudi Arabia• Kuwait• Bahrain• UAE (United Arab Emirates)• Oman• Qatar

Section 1: The Rise of Islam

• The Arabs arose in the Arabian Peninsula of southwestern Asia in the seventh century.

• The Arabian Peninsula is mostly desert.• The Arabs were a nomadic people.• They organized into tribes ruled by a

sheikh.

Section 1 (continued)

• They were farmers and sheepherders who lived on the oases and in the rain-fed areas on the peninsula.

• The domestication of the camel (in the first millennium B.C.) enabled them to populate more of the desert.

Section 1 (continued)

• Most Arabs were polytheistic (the belief of many gods) & recognized Allah as a supreme god.

• The Arabs trace their ancestors to Abraham and his son Ishmael-built a house of worship called the Kaaba at Makkah (Mecca).

• A, Black Stone, holy stone is the cornerstone of the Kaaba.

Section 1 (continued)

• The location of Makkah along a popular trade route increased the region’s importance.

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• Muhammad was born into a merchant family, orphaned at 5, grew up to become a caravan manager, and married a rich widow named Khadija.

• He became troubled by the growing gap b/w generous Makkans and greedy wealthy elite,

• He began to visit the hills to meditate.• According to Muslim teachings, Muhammad is

believed to have received revelations from God during meditation.

Section 1 (continued)

• Revelations were the culmination of previous messages brought by Moses and Jesus.

• Written down in the Quran aka Koran (the holy book of Islam).

• Islam = “peace through submission to the will of Allah.”

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• Followers of Islam-Muslims.• Islam has one God, Allah, and

Muhammad is God’s prophet.• Muhammad preached in Makkah but was

disappointed by the response.• He and his followers moved to Madinah

(Medina) in 622 (the 1st year of the Islamic calendar).

Section 1 (continued)

• Muhammad began to win support from people in Madinah, as well as from Arabs in the desert, known as bedouin.

• Muhammad became both a political and religious leader.

• He put together a military force.

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• In 630, he returned to Makkah; the city surrendered and most of the people converted to Islam.

• The Kaaba was declared a holy place of Islam.

• In 632, Muhammad died.

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• All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Makkah, known as the Hajj.

• Muslim scholars developed a law code known as the shari’ah which applied the teachings of the Quran to daily life.

• It regulates all aspects of Muslim life.

Section 1 (continued)

• The Five Pillars of Islam are:– 1. believe in one God whose prophet is Muhammad

(belief)– 2. pray five times a day (prayer)– 3. give to the poor (charity)– 4. Refrain from food & drink from dawn to sunset

during Ramadan (ninth month of the calendar) (fasting)

– 5. make the pilgrimage (go to) to Makkah (pilgrimage)