Islam and the Arab Empires
600-1400
The Arabs:
-Semitic speaking
-Nomadic sheep and goat herders
-Desert, harsh, environment, camel caravans for trade
-Organized into clans and tribes with Sheikh as leader.
-Polytheistic but believed in supreme God Allah.
-All tribes worshipped the Black Stone which was and is
placed in the Kaaba.
Life of Muhammad
-Married
wealthy widow Khadija
-Muhammad concerned about growing gap between rich and
poor
-Began to meditate and received revelations from God via
angel Gabriel
-Familiar with Jewish and Christians (Moses and Jesus) but
eventually believed he was the last and final prophet
Islam emerges...
-Revelations
were written down in the Quran
-Islam means “peace through submission to Allah”
-Muslims are those who practice Islam
-After frustrated at only have 30 followings after 3 years, fled
to Medina (Hijrah) where he won converts and became
political as well as religious leader
-Returned with army to Mecca and took it by force (hajj)
5 Pillars of Islam
1-Belief in Allah
2-Prayer-5 times a day facing Mecca
3-Charity to poor
4-Fasting during Ramadan
-5 Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once
Sharia-applies teaching of Quran to daily life
Research topics
1-Umayyad Dynasty 180
2-Abbasid Dynasty-181-182
3-Islamic Society page 185
4-Philosophy, Science and History 186
5-Literature, Art and Architecture 187
6-Islamic Society-Saudi Arabia-Religious law, government and women- TODAY
7-The Islamic State-how does it contrast with Islamic characteristics from 6001400?