Ancient ArabiaReference pages 372-378

The Empty Quarter: The world’s largest continuous body of sand. Some parts have no rain for 10 years or more. It is located on the Arabian peninsula.

The Arabian Peninsula

Desert stretches over the Arabian peninsula. Water is found only at oases. Not all of Arabia is dry. In the southwest, enough rain falls to support plant life. To survive, Arabs formed into clans and tribes who were loyal to one another. The tribes head was called a sheikh.

Who are the Bedouins?• Desert herders• Traveled from oases to

oases to water and graze their camels, goats, and sheep

• Lived in tents • Ate dried fruits and nuts• Drank milk from their

animals• Ate meat rarely – animals

were much too valuable

Daily Life in Early Arabia

The City of Makkah (Mecca)• By about A.D. 500, Arabian merchants handled

most trade between India and the Mediterranean Sea.

• As their trade grew, Arab merchants found towns along the trade routes.

• Makkah became the largest and the richest of them all.

• It was a crossroads for merchants, and was an important religious site.

• The holiest place in Arabia was in this city…

The Kaaba- a low square building surrounded by statues of gods and goddesses.

A Great Stone from Heaven…• Located inside of the

Kaaba• Pilgrims, people who

travel to a holy place, flocked to Makkah.

• Early Arabians were polytheistic.

• The most important god was Allah, the creator.

Muhammad: Islam’s ProphetThe prophet Muhammad brought the message of Islam to the people of Arabia after meditating in the hills..Islam means “surrendering to the will of Allah.”Allah is the Arabic word for “God.”Muhammad preached that all people are equal and that the rich should share their goods. This message was well received in Makkah, where most people lived humbly.

The city of Makkah• Birthplace of Muhammad• Muhammad married a wealthy widow and

merchant, Khadija.• This marriage gave Muhammad wealth

and respect in the busy city of Makkah.• Makkah attracted many merchants

because it was on the main trading route.• This city also attracted visitors because of

the Kaaba, Makkah’s temple.

Opposition to Islam(pg. 375)

1. Who do you think opposed Muhammad’s message and why?

2. Why did Muhammad and his followers leave Makkah in A.D. 622?

3. Why is the year A.D. 622 significant to Muslims?

4. What does the city Madinah mean? 5. Describe Muhammad’s government.

Islam’s Teachings• The Quran provided guidelines for Muslims’ lives

and the governments of Muslim states.

The Five Pillars1. Muslims must declare that there is no god but

Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet.2. Muslims must pray five times per day facing

toward the holy city of Makkah/Mecca.3. Muslims must give to the poor.4. Muslims must not eat from dawn to dusk during

the holy month of Ramadan.5. Muslims must visit Makkah/Mecca once in their

life.

Islam Judaism

All Three

Christianity