ARAB WORLD

ARAB WORLD

-Arabian Peninsula – crossroads between 3 continents – Africa, Europe and Asia-Persian Gulf – East / Red Sea – West / Indian Ocean - South-Harsh desert – makes up most of the land-Loosely connected tribes – provided security and support for a life made difficult by the extreme conditions-Sheik-Tribal leader-Bedouins – Arab nomads – ideals of courage, loyalty to family and warrior skills became a part of Islamic life-Caravan trade – trading in groups for protection

ARABIAN PENINSULA

ARAB RELIGION

-Allah – the God of Islam-All Muslims as descendants of Abraham – Ishmael-Ka’aba – shrine in the city of Mecca-Mecca – city in western Arabia – center of the Islamic world-Muhammad – born in the city of Mecca

-Trader but very religious – married Khadijah – 15 years-Revelations from Allah – through the angel Gabriel –age 40-Prophet of Allah

-Moses, Jesus – prior prophets-Qur’an – Islamic Holy Book – Islamic Bible – contains 114 chapters-Exile to Medina 622 AD – called Hijrah

-First year of Muslim calendar-Return to Mecca in 630 after years of warfare – Muhammad and 10,000-Political and religious control expands

RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP

-Arab Empire-Who to succeed Muhammad?

-He died at age 62 and had not named a successor to lead-Caliph - “Successor to the Prophet”-Abu Bakr – friend of Muhammad – became Caliph

-Spread of Islam through the 7th and early 8th century-North Africa, Persia, Pakistan, Western Europe-Jihad – means striving

-can refer to the inner struggle against evil-can also mean armed struggle against unbelievers (infidels)

-Abu Bakr used Jihad to expand Islam-Umayyad Dynasty – family that came to power after Ali was assassinated

-Moved Muslim capital – Damascus – got away from Mecca-Began to live a life of wealth unlike the previous caliphs -Hereditary caliphate established

SPREAD OF ISLAM

-Invasion of Spain-Berber clans from Northern Africa had converted to Islam-Invaded Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar-Berber Invaders became known as Moors-Berber armies advanced north to within 200 miles from Paris-Battle of Tours in 732 France stopped Muslim advance-Continued to rule Spain for next 700 years

STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

ARAB POLITICS

-Split of Islam over the succession of the caliph-Sunni

-Umayyad Line – based on merits and achievement-Shi’a

-Ali Line – direct lineage of Muhammad – son in law-Abbasid Dynasty – took over after the Umayyads were overthrown

-From 750-1258-Baghdad as capital – newly created city – 762 – central

Iraq-Bureaucracy – to conduct the huge empire’s affairs-Taxed land, imports and exports, and non-Muslims’ wealth-Downfall over succession, bureaucracy problems

MECCA

DAMASCUS

BAGHDAD

ISLAM

ISLAM

-Teachings of Muhammad-Monotheistic-Allah-Islam

-Muslim-Submission to the will of God

BASIC BELIEFS

-Muhammad not divine-Qur’an – the holy book-Arabic language-5 Pillars of Islam

1ST PILLAR

-Belief-a simple declaration of one’s faith in Islam-saying that there is no God but Allah, and

Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

2ND PILLAR

-Prayer-Always facing Mecca-Many gather in Mosques to pray-5 times daily at specified times

3RD PILLAR

-Almsgiving-charity to the poor-all people are supposed to be cared for under

Islamic teachings

4TH PILLAR

-Fasting-Holy Month of Ramadan

- typically June into July (29-30 days)-Fasting from sunrise to sunset-Shows faith and obedience

5TH PILLAR

-Pilgrimage-trip to visit Holy sites in the Islamic faith

especially Mecca-called the Hajj-should be completed at least once in a person’s life

ISLAMIC MOSQUES

-Mosques-House of worship-No furnishings-No images-No official priests

-Friday as the day of worship

ISLAMIC LAW

-Shari’ah-Muslim law described by the Qur’an-Regulate the facts of everyday life

SPLIT OF ISLAM

-Sunni Muslims-form the majority of Islamic peoples

-Sia Muslims-believe in a hereditary caliph who is a direct

descendant of Muhammad