World History Chapter 6

The World of Islam

Islam: the beginnings

• Started in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula• Started by the prophet Muhammad in Mecca• He claimed that the Angel Gabriel spoke to him while he

was meditating on wickedness in a cave in the desert• Had to leave Mecca, as he and his followers were

persecuted by the wealthy, corrupt Meccans. • He moves to Medina, & the # of his followers increase• In 630 he returns with a vast army and conquers Mecca• He calls the Kaaba a sacred shrine (see next page)• He dies without an heir in 632 A.D.

In the city of Mecca there is a great stone building called the Kaaba. Mohammad called this building sacred as it was associated with the founder of Mecca: Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Kaaba in Mecca is the most holy

site in Islam. It is the black building below.

The Teachings of Mohammad

• Islam or the religion of the prophet Mohammad is Monotheistic, and shares roots (including prophets such as Moses and Jesus) with Judaism and Christianity.

• Muslims belief that to achieve life after death (heaven), that they must subject themselves to the will of Allah (life by his rules)

• Muslims believe that Mohammad was human!• There are 5 pillars or most important laws

Belief: Shahadatayn

Prayer:

Salaah

Charity:

Zakaah

Fasting:

Siyaam

Pilgrimage:

Hajj

Believe that is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger

Perform the correct prayers 5 times per day

Give part of you wealth to the poor and needy

Consuming no food nor drink during daylight during the holy month of Ramadan

Make a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in your lifetime if you are able

A great Mosque (Islamic temple, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia) Note: non-Muslims are not allowed there.

Sucession

• After the death of Muhammad, his father-in-law Abu Bakr became Caliph, or leader.

• Bakr expanded the empire, but when he died, there were struggles.

• General Muawiya became caliph and made it hereditary, starting the Umayyad dynasty. It lasted until 750.

• He moved the capital to Damascus, Syria

Abu Bakr:

• One revolt during the Umayyad dynasty was very important. A distant relative of Mohammad’s through marriage, known as Ali, lead a hopeless revolt. Although he died, the conflict split the Muslim word with Shiites only accepting descendents of Ali as the rulers of Islam, and the Sunni who accepted the Umayyads.

The Abbasids were the next dynasty. They moved the capital to the Tigris river, and built the city of Baghdad. There was much cultural

growth in this period: math, poetry, astronomy, law.

After the Abbasids

• The Seljuk Turks conquered Baghdad, but only ruled militarily; they left the religious leaders in place

• After the Turks, the Mongols conquered the empire and destroyed the beautiful mosques in Baghdad