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Cheng Chen: 15th of October of 2007

4th Hour Belch: AP World History

The Rise of Islam (600-1200)

Key Points:

• How did the Arab conquests grow out of the career of Muhammad?
• Why did the caliphate break up?
• How did Muslim societies differ from region to region?
• What was the relationship between urbanization and the development of Islamic
culture?

The Origins of Islam

The Arabian Peninsula Before Muhammad

Although trade spread through out the sea areas and ports, the central plains and deserts of Arabia
were mostly ignored by the civilized world. This desert place was the area for nomadic tribes and not
the main sea ferring traders. At the same time, the empty center of Arabia was also the place where
Islam first took form.

Although these central areas tended to be desolated, caravan trading allowed certain caravan trading
cities to sprang to existence. Among these cities include Mecca. This was an area in which religion
intermingled.

Muhammad in Mecca

Muhammad was born in 570. At around 610, he started meditating. During the "Night of Power and
Excellence" he was spoken to by the angel Gabriel. Throughout his life, he had revelations with God
(Allah) and shared this information only with this closet friends and family. Muhammad died in 632.

Muhammad was known as the last messenger of God. For people who follow and submit to Islam, the
will of God, are called Muslims. The historical context of Islam is very similar to Christianity and
Judaism. However, early Muslims believed that the words of Muhammad were more pure than the other
religions' preach of God because Muhammad's revelations did not go through an editing process.

The Formation of Umma

To avoid hostility, Mohammad's followers fled Mecca and settled at Medina in 622. This was the first
Umma, a society solely focused to Islam. Abu Bakr became the first Caliph 24 hours after Muhammad's
death. He was Muhammad's successor and started the first Islamic Caliphate. Abu Bakr also followed in
the Muslim traditions of the 5 Pillars of Islam (similar, in idea, to the 10 commandments of
Christianity).

The Quran was the book in which Abu Bakr led a group to organize Mohammad's revelations and
thoughts. It was made around 650. Soon afterwards, the Islamic nations broke out into civil war
deciding on the Caliphs. This civil war passed from one generation to the next in which Shi'ites were
pitted against Sunnis.

The Rise and Fall of the Caliphate (632-1258)

The Islamic Conquests (632-711)

The Islamic conquests and campaigns began under the 2nd caliphate named Umar. At around 711,
Islamic forces had captured Egypt, Spain, Northern India, Tunisia, and Northern Africa. The last of the
Sasanid Shah, Yazdigird III, was also defeated by the Muslims. The authority of Medina was also
reconfirmed during the Abu Bakr caliphate. [Is this the same Medina as the Persian Medina?]
During the Umar caliphate, it was decided that Arabs could not own the land that they conquered.
During the conquests, the lower percentage of Arab Muslim people lived off the taxes collected from the
Non-Islamic conquered. There was also a lack of significant attempt to spread the Islamic religion. The
Islamic traditions and language was not the majority.

The Umayyad and Early Abbasid Caliphates (661-850)

Slowly during the caliphate, the Muslim government spread standards (coins and language) according
to Islamic culture. The families of Muhammad Ali fought each other in turmoil fighting for the position of
Caliph. The last of the Abbasid family was killed by the Mongols in during an invasion to Baghdad.

Baghdad was made during this period. The Arabian Nights was also written during this time. Eventually
more and more people converted to Islam.

Political Fragmentation (850-1050)

As always, once the Muslim empire grew too large, it started to crumble under its own weight. The long
distances with the slow communications of ancient times meant extreme difficulties in attempting to
organize politics. The Abbasid caliphate finally fell at around 945.

The African areas also were involved in Islam. Ghana was the land of gold in Islamic texts. Parts of
Africa were among the few areas that converted to Islam peacefully. Cairo also became a center of
Islam. Spain and its cities grew with the conversion to Islam.

Assault from Withing and Without (1050-1258)

The Byzantine empire was crushed during the battle of Manzikert in 1071. Anatolia was open to the
Turkish occupation. Princes fought for the title of Sultan while Sunnis and Shi'ites were still fighting.

During the time, the first crusades occurred in 1099. The Christians took control of Jerusalem.
Afterwards, the Islamic forces banned together again and first crushed the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt
(the self-declared rulers) and then took back Jerusalem. Under Saladin, Egypt and Syria were
connected. During the time, the Mongols came by and basically destroyed and killed many people.

Islamic Civilization

Law and Dogma

the Law of Islam is the Shari'a. At the time of Muhammad, there was not really a dedicated Muslim law.
Islamic law had to slowly develop over time. Some believed it was best to follow Muhammad's ways by
studying the Hadith. Later, most scholars believed that Ali's personal behaviors set the best example for
Islamic ways.

Converts and Cities

To convert to Islam, a person simply stated that "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of God." Many converted people could not actually understand the Quran nor many other
Islamic documents. They depended on finding things out by themselves.

Islam, Women, and Slaves

Women hardly traveled. Women were to cover themselves when traveling outside. In addition, men
could be polygamists. However, women did have a lot of power, especially in land owning. Their power
was higher than that of Christian or Jewish women. Islam allowed slavery but forbade the enslavement
of other Muslims of people of the Book: Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians.

Conclusion

Among the ancient religions, Islam was one of the great ones that actually ruled an empire and
continued its existence today.

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