THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE: HEIR OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Obj: to trace the rapid spread of Islam by looking at factors that made it so attractive to believers

ARABIAN PENINSULA – FERTILE IN THE SOUTHWEST; DESERT EVERYWHERE ELSEPOLYTHEISTIC PRE-ISLAMBEDOUINS: NOMADIC PEOPLESHEJAZI: MERCHANTS, MORE URBAN, STATIONARYMECCA: RELIGIOUS & TRADING CENTER, KA’BAH SANCTUARYGroups of people were different but respected each others customs; obligation to family, honor family, proud, generous, courageous. Shared religious traditions: 3 months war free, all prayed in Mecca at the Ka’bah, fighting not tolerated in Mecca

THE RISE OF ISLAM: SUBMISSION TO ALLAH

MECCA :TRADING HUB, MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, PEOPLE & RELIGIONS IN AND OUT OF AREA – CONTROLLED BY QURAISH

MOHAMMED 570-632 – BORN INTO QURAISH TRIBE, ORPHANED AT A YOUNG AGE, RAISED BY GRANDFATHER, CAME UNDER GUIDANCE OF A WEALTHY WOMAN, MARRIES HER

610 VISION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL, PREACH GOD’S WORD, FINAL CULMINATION OF THE PROPHETIC TRADITION OF ABRAHAM & MOSES

MUSLIM: ONE WHO SURRENDERS

PREACHING & CONVERSION• ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT FAMILY

FIRST – FEARS OF ECONOMIC DECLINE & PLACE AS LOCAL WORSHIP

• TRAVELS TO YATHRIB AT THEIR REQUEST 622 HIJRAH –BEGINNING OF MUSLIM CALENDAR

• NAME CHANGE TO MEDINA “CITY OF THE PROPHET” & MUHAMMAD POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS LEADER

• 630 ENTERS MECCA & QURAISH SUBMIT TO ISLAM, MONOTHEISM & CONTINUED TO THRIVE RELIGIOUSLY & ECONOMICALLY

RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS – 5 PILLARS OF ISLAM

SPREAD OF ISLAM• DEATH – NO SUCCESSOR• 1ST 3 CALIPHS ‘DEPUTY OF THE

PROPHET’ UMAYYAD’S• MILITARY CAMPAIGNS TO SUBDUE

TRIBES NOT ACCEPTING OF NEW LEADER

• 651 CONQUEST OF PERSIA COMPLETE

• 646 CONTROL NORTH AFRICA• 711 SPAIN• EARLY SPREAD NOT RELIGIOUS

CRUSADE – WANT REVENUE BUT RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM HELPS

• WEAKNESSES OF BYZ & PERSIANS• DISCONTENT BY OPPRESSED OF BYZ

& PERSIAN EMPERORS

SCHISM: SUNNI & SHI’A (SHIITE)• 644-656 CALIPH UTHMAN – NOT

POPULAR• RIVALS APPOINT ALI – RELATIVE OF

MUHAMMAD• ALI MURDERED BY UTHMAN’S

FAMILY• 661 UMAYYAD CALIPH & RULED

UNTIL 750 FROM DAMASCUS• ALI FOLLOWERS DON’T ACCEPT

UMAYYAD’S• SHI’A (PARTY OR FACTION)

MINORITY – ONLY BLOOD RELATION

• SUNNI – BEST CANDIDATE CAN RULE- HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

• 15% VS 85%

PHILOSOPHICAL, MEDICAL & MATHEMATICAL ADVANCES

• ARABIC TRANSLATIONS OF GREEK PHILOSOPHERS BY END OF 10TH C.

• IBN SINA (AVICENNA) MUSLIM PHILOSOPHER: RECONCILE GREEK PHILOSOPHY W/ ISLAMIC THEOLOGY – DIFFICULT TASK

• MEDICAL DISCOVERIES• IBN RUSD (AVERROES)

COMMENTARIES ON PHILOSOPHY (ARISTOTLE) MAJOR INFLUENCE ON 13TH C. SCHOLARS & WESTERN VIEWS OF ARISTOTLE

• ADAPTATION OF HINDU #’S & USE OF 0 (ZERO)