THE RISE OF ISLAM: 600-750

Middle East, ca. 600 A.D.

Pre Islamic Arabia Caravan Culture

Tribal organization

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Violent, warrior states based on vendetta culture

ghazu (raids) on caravans

Patriarchal

The Ka’aba in Mecca

Cultural influences on Islam Persia

Administration and governance

literature India

Mathematics, science, medicine “Hindi” numbers

Greece Philosophy, esp. Aristotle Greek medicine

Rome and Byzantium Architecture

Islamic Art and Architecture Found all over the

world Influenced from

other classical traditions

Expression of divine presence

Both secular and religious

Major practices: Metalwork Pottery Painting Calligraphy rugs

Origins of Islam Beginning of His

Ministry Muhammad in Mecca The Hijra Umma: community of

believers

The Quran Record of revelations

received during visions

Committed to writing c. 650 CE, compiled (Muhammad dies 632) Under the third Caliph,

Uthman ibn Affan Tradition of

Muhammad’s life: hadith

Five Pillars Confession of faith Prayer 5 times a day Charity to the needy Fasting during themonth-long Ramadan Pilgrimage to Meccaat least once duringone’s lifetime

Early Problems Succession

Mohammed had no surviving male children

generated a permanent split in the Islamic community Sunnis Shi’as

Abu Bakr not particularly

popular with the Muslim community

Ruled 632-634 allowed raid, then

invasions of Byzantine and Persian territory

subjugated any dissident elements or tribes

disposed of any “new prophets”

Ali Was cousin and

son-in-law of the Prophet

Ruled 656-661 Assassinated 661 Umayyad leader

Mu’awiya declates self caliph

Umayyeds successful in the war Ali assassinated in 661

A.D. by the Kharijites

beginning of the Umayyed dynasty

Atlantic Ocean to India Syria: center of the

Islamic World eventually displaced by

the Abbasids an Arab family claiming

decent from Mohammed

Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount Jerusalem

Success = strain success introduced luxury and

change From original caliphs to the

Umayyad caliphs new ideas and new ethnic

groups with their own customs and

heritage, to try to assimilate rise of a sort of “revivalist

element” Islam had strayed from its

original path and purity Muslims were being led back

to paganism caliphs were becoming idle,

corrupt, tyrants

Photo on right: Ummayad Mosque in Damascus

Policy toward Conquered Peoples

Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent

Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims

Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims

Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority