Birth of Islam part 1
In the 6th century,
and
were two small population centers along the western edge of the
_____________ __________________, Both settlements figure prominently into the birth and rise of
Mecca was the religious center, hosting the
________.
__ shrine, its _______ ________, and the associated idols. Both
Mecca and Medina were on trade routes between the East, the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. Mecca was the
more active trading center.
1. What is the cultural/religious significance of being located on a trade route?
There were few settlements on the peninsula with most of the area devoted to desert and _________ __________
dominated by rugged nomadic tribes. There was cyclical ____________ ___________ feuding and subsequent violence
caused by perceived ___________ encroachments or personal offenses.
2. What long term difficulties might an empire spawned by a clan type society face?
Birth of Islam part 2
was born in Mecca c. 570. His father died before or soon after he was born. As a child Muhammad was
sent to spend about five years living with Bedouin tribes. Soon after he returned to Mecca, his mother died. He was
passed between family members until being permanently taken in by his uncle ____________ Talib.
3. How might Muhammad’s childhood have affected his decisions in later in life?
Abu was a merchant who participated in numerous
__ north into Byzantine or Persian territories. Muhammad
would have accompanied him on some of those trips experiencing exposure to the culture and religion of those areas.
Muhammad lived in Mecca as a young man and married a woman 15 years his elder. Her name was
______________, a widowed merchant who happen to be Muhammad’s employer. At around the age of _______
Muhammad is said to have become _
of his countrymen. In the year
___
_ with the life of a merchant and disheartened with the division
, he excused himself for a month long spiritual retreat to a cave on Mount Hira.
Here he is reported to have had a revelation from __
_______
communicated through the angel________________
4. What might have caused Muhammad to be so disturbed with his occupation and the conduct of his fellow Arabs?
Rick Liles © 2015