The Muslim World (600-1250)

The Muslim World (600-1250)

• The Arabian Peninsula was a crossroads of three continents: Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• It had a small fertile area in the south with oases, otherwise it was desert.
• The Bedouins were nomadic herders who lived in the desert.
• They were organized into tribes and clans, providing security and support.
• They were proud of their adaptability to the desert and their ability to defend themselves.
• Some Bedouins later settled down as farmers or town dwellers.
• Bedouin ideals included courage, loyalty to family, and warrior skills.
• These ideals influenced the Islamic way of life.
• Trade routes connected Arabia to major oceans and land routes.
• Traded products included spices, incense, information, and ideas.
• Major cities like Petra, Palmyra, and Mecca were important trade centers.
• Mecca was also a religious center, a pilgrimage site, and a trade hub.

Monotheism

• The belief in one God is central to Islam.
• Many Christians and Jews (known as Hanifs) lived in Arab lands and practiced monotheism.

The Rise of Islam

• Muhammad was born into a mixed religious environment in Mecca.
• He became a trader.
• At age 40, while in prayer, Muhammad heard the voice of the angel Gabriel.
• Gabriel told Muhammad he would be a messenger of God.
• In Mecca, Muhammad gained converts by teaching that Allah is the one and only God, and Muhammad is his last prophet.
• Many Bedouin tribes converted to Islam.

The Hijrah

• Some people in Mecca feared that the city would lose its pilgrimage importance due to Muhammad's monotheistic teachings.
• Facing hostility, Muhammad and his followers left Mecca and settled in Yathrib.
• Yathrib later became known as Medina (the city of the Prophet).

Muhammad Unified Arabia Under Islam

• Muhammad and his growing army of Bedouin followers took control of Mecca.
• They unified much of Arabia under Islam.

Beliefs of Islam

• There is only one God, Allah.
• There is good and evil, and each individual is responsible for their actions.
• Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
• All believers must carry out the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Five Pillars

• Faith
• Prayer
• Alms
• Fasting
• Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca

Similarities and Differences between Jews, Christians, and Muslims

• All three religions believe in one God (monotheism).
• They all believe Abraham was a prophet.
• Jews and Christians believe in the Old Testament and the Ten Commandments.
• Jews and Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet.
• Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final prophet.
• Muslims believe in the Quran as the final word of God.
• Jews believe they are still waiting for the Messiah.
• Christians believe Jesus is the son of God and the Messiah and believe in the New Testament.

Muslim Achievements During the Abbasid Caliphate

• Muslim society during the Abbasid caliphate was divided into four classes.
• Upper class Muslims from birth were taxed less than others.
• Converts were taxed higher than upper-class Muslims.
• "Protected peoples" (e.g., Christians, Jews) were taxed higher than others.
• Slaves, mostly prisoners of war, were at the bottom.
• Women had a limited but vital role in Muslim society, with more rights compared to European women of the time.
• Muslim leaders supported scholarship, and Muslims preserved knowledge.
• Achievements in science include advances in medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.
• Contributions to philosophy, literature, and architecture should also be recognized.

The Spread of Islam

• Muhammad's successors defended and expanded Islam.
• Many conquered people chose to convert to Islam.
• Conquests were sometimes enforced (convert or die).
• Muslim lands were split among rival groups.
• The Abbasids took power and ruled for 500 years.
• Independent Muslim states emerged.
• Local leaders gained dominance in smaller regions.
• A vast trading network extended across the empire and further across various regions, including China and below the Sahara.

Factors that Helped Hold the Muslim Empire Together

• Religion
• Language
• Trade
• The economy

Factors that Threatened to Break Up the Muslim Empire

• Rise of independent Muslim states
• Dominance of smaller regions by local leaders

Cause and Effect of Islamic Expansion

• Causes: Religious zeal, overpopulation, desire for new lands and wealth, weakness of neighboring empires (Byzantine and Persian).
• Effects: Arabic became the common language, Islamic civilization spread, preservation of knowledge, Arab control of trade routes, split between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims.

The Spread of Islam Map

• The map shows territory controlled by the Muslim Empire under Muhammad in 632, and further expansions by subsequent leaders.

Muslim Achievements

• Important advancements in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy occurred.
• They preserved much lost knowledge and expanded the sciences.

Explore the rich history of the Muslim world from 600 to 1250. This quiz covers the geography of the Arabian Peninsula, the lifestyle of the Bedouins, and the significance of trade routes and major cities like Mecca. Test your knowledge on how these factors shaped Islamic culture and monotheism.