Islam ExpandsIslam Expands

Chapter 10 Section 2

Muhammad’s SuccessorsMuhammad’s SuccessorsMuhammad did not name successor or how to choose oneMuslim community elected Abu-Bakr (loyal friend) as first caliph

Caliph = “successor” or “deputy”New political formation = “caliphate”

Muhammad’s father-in-law, Abu Bakr, was named the khalifa (caliph) or “Successor”

Rightly Guided CaliphsRightly Guided Caliphs“Rightly Guided Caliphs” = the first four caliphs

Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and AliAll personally had known MuhammadKnown as “rightly guided” because they used Muhammad’s actions and the Qur’an as guides for leadership

Concept of JihadConcept of Jihadjihad means “striving” – inner struggle against evil

Also used to mean armed struggle against unbelievers

Abu-Bakr used jihad to encourage & justify the expansion of Islam

Muslim ConquestsMuslim ConquestsMuslims eventually conquered Syria, lower Egypt, Sassanid Empire (Persia)Stretched from Atlantic Ocean in west to Indus River in the eastTreatment of Conquered Peoples

Religious freedom (Qur’an forbids forced conversion)Christians & Jews were “people of the book”Non-Muslims paid poll tax & certain restrictions

Reasons for SuccessReasons for Success

1) Desire to spread their faithVictories seen as sign of Allah’s supportFought to defend Islam

2) Armies were well disciplined & expertly commanded3) Non-followers of Christianity & Zoroastrianism were persecuted by Byzantines & Sassanid Empires, so they welcomed Muslim invaders

Internal Conflict = CrisisInternal Conflict = CrisisDifficult to keep unified ruleUthman murdered – civil war erupts – struggle for power

Ali (relative of Muhammad) v. Muawiya (governor of Syria)Ali was assassinated

Umayyad family came to power

Moved capital to DamascusSurrounded with wealth, ceremony

Civil War – the UmayyadsCivil War – the UmayyadsUmayyads came to power & moved Muslim capital to Damascus

Split between Shi’a and Sunni Muslims

Sunni Shi’a

Believe that first four caliphs were “Rightly Guided”

Believe that Ali should have succeeded Muhammad

Muslim rulers should follow the Sunna

All Muslim rulers should be descended from Muhammad; don’t recognize the Sunna

Claim that the Shi’a distorted the meaning of passages in the Qur’an

Claim that the Sunni have distorted the meaning of passages in the Qur’an

Split of IslamSplit of IslamDivision over Umayyad rule, office of caliphThe Shi’a believed the caliph should be descendant of MuhammadThe Sunni believed that a caliph could be a ruler who followed the Sunna (Muhammad’s example), not necessarily a descendantBoth accused of misinterpreting the Qur’anThe Sufi rejected the luxurious life of the Umayyads

Growth of Muslim EmpireGrowth of Muslim EmpireUmayyad caliphate set up in Spain

Berbers (Muslims from N. Africa) also settled in Spain

Abbasids Consolidate Power - replaced the Umayyads as ruler of the empire

Moved the capital to Baghdad (key for trade)Developed strong bureaucracy

Rival Groups Divide Muslim Rival Groups Divide Muslim LandsLands

Abbasids failed to keep controlIndependent Muslim states arose

For example, the Fatimid Caliphate (Shi’a who claimed descent from Muhammad’s daughter Fatima)

The Abbasid caliphate was connected to the independent Muslims through religion, trade, and economy

Muslim TradeMuslim TradeMuslim Empire had access to both land and sea tradeSingle language (Arabic) and single currency (dinar) made travel & trade easierBanks offered sakks, or letters of credit, to merchants

Merchant with sakk from one city could exchange it for cash in another cityIn English, pronounced “check”

Muslim CultureMuslim Culture

Chapter 10 Section 3

Muslim SocietyMuslim Society

Cultural traditions combined with Arabic culturePreserved Greek and Roman knowledge

Today’s Goal: Explain the contributions Today’s Goal: Explain the contributions of Muslim culture to the arts, of Muslim culture to the arts, literature, science, math, and literature, science, math, and philosophyphilosophy

Muslim CitiesMuslim CitiesDamascus, Córdoba, Cairo, JerusalemCities symbolized strength of caliphateBaghdad (Abbasid capital)

Extensive planningCircular design of three protective wallsPalace of marble and stone at centerMain streets lined w/shops

Social Classes & WomenSocial Classes & WomenUpper class = Muslim at birthSecond class = converts to IslamThird class = “protected peoples”Lowest class = slavesQur’an stated men and women were equal in faith

shari’a gave women more economic & property rightsYet still subservient to menSome women were educated, participated in public life

Muslim Scholarship & Muslim Scholarship & Knowledge Knowledge

The Prophet emphasized learningHouse of Wisdom = library, academy, & translation center in Baghdad

Scholars of various cultures worked together to translate texts

Muslim LiteratureMuslim Literature

Qur’an is standard for all Arabic literature

Poets praised the Prophet, Islam, & caliphsNature & pleasures of life

Ten Thousand and One NightsCollection of fairy tales, parables, legends

Muslim PhilosophyMuslim Philosophy

Preserved works of Greek philosophers“Ideal Man” – blend of culturesThe ideal and morally perfect man should be of East Persian derivation, Arabic in faith, of Iraqi education, a Hebrew in astuteness, a disciple of Christ in conduct, as pious as a Greek monk, a Greek in the individual sciences, an Indian in the interpretation of all mysteries, but lastly and especially a Sufi in his whole spiritual life.

Ikhwan as-Safa, The World of Islam

Muslim Art & ArchitectureMuslim Art & Architecture

Muslims discouraged images of living things Calligraphy beautiful handwritingGeometric patterns in woodwork, glass, ceramics, textilesArchitecture represents cultural blending

Great Mosque of Damascus – dome & vaulted ceilingGreat Mosque of Córdoba – two tiers of arches to support ceiling

Muslim MedicineMuslim MedicinePersian scholar al-Razi (Rhazes) – great physician

Comprehensive Book, Treatise on Smallpox & MeaslesPatients recover quickly if breathed clean air

Muslim Math & ScienceMuslim Math & ScienceSolve problems by conducting experiments in lab settingsAl-Khwarizmi al-jabr (algebra)Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) Optics

Revolutionary ideas about vision

Astronomy needed for religious purposes

Muslim observatoriesAstrolabe (navigation)Armillary sphere