The Spread of Islam

Chapter 22

Introduction

• Muslim and Ottoman Empires began on Arabian Peninsula

• Originally Bedouins• Ancient religion was based on worshipping

things in nature• In the 600s, Islam appeared and spread

throughout Arabia

Islam

• Islam means “the act of submitting to God”• Followers are called Muslims, which means

“believers”• Founded by an Arab merchant named

Mohammed, also known as “The Prophet” of Allah

Where Islam Began

• Mecca was the largest and richest city in Arabia

• A shrine, called the ka’bah, brought pilgrims to Mecca

The Founding of Islam

• Read the section titled “Mohammed” that begins on page 320

• Take notes as you read about the founding of Islam

Islam’s Holy Book

• The Koran or Qur’an• Written in Arabic • Describes the Five Pillars of Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada: Recite the Islamic creed: “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet”

2. Salat: Pray five times a day, facing Mecca3. Sawm: Give alms (charity) to the poor4. Zakat: Fast during the month of Ramadan5. Hajj: Make a pilgrimage to Mecca

Words to Know

• Ka’bah – Shrine in Mecca• Zemzen – Holy well near the shrine in Mecca• Anno Hegira – “Year of Flight” & first year of

Muslim Calendar• Mosque – Muslim house of worship• Imam – Muslim prayer leader

The Arab Empire

• When Mohammed died, his followers had to find a new leader

• New leader was called a caliph which means “successor”

The Rightly Guided Caliphs

• Mohammed’s family ruled as caliphs after he died

• They led Muslims in jihad, or holy wars, against infidels, or nonbelievers

• They believed if a Muslim died in jihad, he would go to paradise

The Umayyads

• New caliph, Mu’awiyah, founded the Umayyad dynasty

• Moved the capital from Medina to Damascus• The title of caliph became hereditary

Sunni and Shia Muslims

• Shia (Shiite) Muslims believed that only a member of Mohammed’s family could be a caliph

• Sunni (Sunnite) Muslims supported the Umayyad dynasty

The Abbasids

• New rulers of the Arab Empire• Moved capital to Baghdad and built a

beautiful city• Spread Arabic language and Islamic religion

through the empire• Created government post of vizier, or chief

advisor• Concentrated on trade rather than warfare

The Golden Age of Muslim Spain

• Muslims from North Africa became known as Moors

• They moved into Spain and set up a kingdom and defeated the Visigoths

• This became known as a Golden Age because culture flourished

Islamic Life

• Koran gave more rights and privileges to men– Men were in charge of women– Men could marry up to 4 women– Men could easily divorce their wives, but women

had to give up everything to divorce their husbands

Islamic Life

• Sons were more honored than daughters– Birth of sons was celebrated– Boys went to mosque schools

Arab Contributions• Alchemy

– Tried to turn base metals into gold and silver

– Kept records of experimentation

– Basis of modern chemistry

• Astronomy – Eclipses– Tides– Round earth

• Algebra

• Medicine– Doctors’ exams– Pharmacies– Circulation of blood– Contagious diseases like

tuberculosis

Arab Contributions

• The Arts– The Arabian Nights– History of the Arab Empire– Art work with geometric designs, starts, flowers,

and leaves