Arabian Peninsula Desert Region Home of Islam Nomadic people
Traveled from Oasis to Oasis People were tribe/ clan focused
Resulted in feuds Were polytheistic but had no religious moral
code
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Main town centers-Mecca & Medina Mecca housed Kaba and was
a center for trade Ran by Umayyad clan of Quraysh tribe People
Women had greater freedom (lineage through women) Males were
polygamist and women could have multiple partners Status earned
through warfare Tribes led by Shayks
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Religion was not strict Gods were neglected Quraysh tribe was
monotheistic and believed in one god, Allah. Muhammads tribe
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Born to the Quraysh tribe Both parents died Raised by uncle
(Abu Talib) and grandfather Family was fairly wealthy Was exposed
to Christianity/ Judaism
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Eventually moved to Mecca Became a merchant and worked under
Khadijah Became disillusioned with life as a merchant
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Problems with way of life Inequality among classes Class
Rivalries Inter-clan tension Extremely wealthy Umayyads Problems
with polytheistic religions
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Muhammad had his first revelation from Gabriel in 610 AD
Believed his visions were the fulfillment/ clarification of other
prophets Did not write visions down. Wives wrote them in the Qur'an
and recorded the hadiths (traditions of the prophet)
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Came up with 5 pillars Confession No god but Allah and Muhammad
is his prophet- La illaha illalah; Muhamador-rasul-allah. Pray five
times a day facing Mecca Fast during Ramadan Zakat- Tithe for the
poor Hajj- pilgrimage to Kaba to worship Allah
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Originally had only a few followers Seen as a threat to Mecca
and Umayyad wealth and power Snuck away to Medina Mediated clan
disputes (wise political leader) Umayyad attacked but were defeated
10,000 converts destroy the idols in Kaba Mecca converts Muhammad
dies in 632 AD Caused major problems (Sunni and Shiite split)
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Arab Converts Universal monotheistic religion No Priest Ended
feuds and vendetta killings Religious Ethics Zakat- charity for the
poor and no overtaxing poor Regulate life for Judgment Day
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Non-Arab Converts Strict Monotheism Developed legal codes
Egalitarianism Strong sense of community Accepted older teachings-
Islam just improves it
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Started with disagreement over a Caliph Ali: Muhammads
son-in-law (too young) Abu Bakr (632-634): Friend of Muhammad
Defeated rival prophets- Ridda Wars Unified Arab Peninsula and
invaded Byzantium and Persia Used war to unify people Raiding to
gain wealth (taxes)
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Sunni vs. Shiite Sunni- Backed Umayyads (Abu Bakr), Caliph is
chosen by dominant clan Shiite- Backed Ali, Caliph is descendant of
Muhammad Exploded when Uthman (3 rd Caliph) was murdered Ali was
proclaimed caliph
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Ali was a famous warrior and was winning at the Battle of
Siffin Lost support by talking out the rest of the battle Was
otherthrown Assassinated in 661 AD Muawiya was put in as new Caliph
in 660 AD
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Umayad Imperium Conquest during 7 th century From India to
Spain Blocked by Charles Martel in 732 AD Moved political center to
Damascus Arab/ Muslim aristocracy Strong bureaucracy
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Converts Non-Arab Muslim converts were called mawali Still had
to pay property taxes Non-believers paid Jizya (head tax)
Christians and Jews were called dhimmi (people of the book)
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Decline Became very focused on luxury Stopped fighting wars
Merv- warriors were suppose to be separated Also never got treasure
from conquest Revolted and joined the Abbasid party (Muhammads
uncle al-Abbas) Formed alliances with other dissenters Mawali
(non-Arab converts) also joined the cause
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750 AD Abbasid forces defeated Umayyad forces in the Battle on
the River Zab Resulted in a massacre of the Umayyad clan at a peace
banquet. Hunted the rest of the family down
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Named after Abu al-Abbasid Expanded bureaucracy Wazir and Royal
Executioner Helped control empire Pushed for conversion and Mawali
acceptance Mawali were exempt from head tax Given same treatment as
Arab Muslims Stopped dividing booty
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Commercial expansion Heavily involved in trade Indian numerals
became Arabic numerals Guilds were formed Luxury goods created for
wealthy Slave labor- mining/ farming Could earn freedom Ships
called dhows 1 st global civilization
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Cultural Mosque Schools Bath houses Hospitals Arabic Unified
language, language of Qur'an Art Could not use images of people or
animals Geometric designs and flowers 1001 Arabian Nights Preserved
classical works and architecture
