CH. 10

Muslim Civilizations

SECTION 1

The rise of Islam

Muhammad the Prophet

Born in Mecca (a thriving city of trade)

Worked as a Shepherd, later became a merchant

Married Khadija- a wealthy widowBecame known for his honesty in

business and was a devoted husband and father

Troubled by the moral ills of Meccan society

He would often escape to a cave to meditate

There he heard voice of Angel Gabriel- calling him the messenger of God

His wife encouraged him to follow the call1st convert to Islam

He devoted his life to spreading Islam

The Hijra

Many people feared Muhammad’s views- did not want to disrupt trade

622 Muhammad and followers were forced to flee Mecca and settled in Yathrib (later called Medina) Known as a hijra

In Medina, converted Muslims welcomed Muhammad and followers

War broke out between Muslims of Medina and Meccans

Muhammad defeated Meccans allowing him to return to Mecca in 630

He destroyed idols in the KaabaRededicated the Kaaba to Allah632 Muhammad died leaving no successor

Islam continued to spread

People of the Book

Muslims, Jew, and Christians worship the same God

Quran teaches Islam is God’s final and complete revelation Christian Bible contains portions of earlier revelations

Muslims consider Jews and Christians as “People of the Book” spiritually superior to polytheistic idol worshipers Historically had religious freedom

5 Pillars

1. Declaration of Faith

2. Daily Prayer

3. Alms for the Poor

4. Fast During Ramadan

5. Hajj

SECTION 2

Building a Muslim Empire

Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr became 1st caliph Muhammad’s father-in-law & early Islam

convertSome people removed their loyalty to

Islam because they were dependent on Muhammad’s personal command

Abu reunited Muslims based on their allegiance to Islam

Set out to convert remaining Arab tribes

Early Victories

The first four caliphsMarched from victory to victory – conquered the Byzantines and the Persians

Included cities of Damascus and Jerusalem

Sunnis vs Shiites

Split over who should succeed MuhammadShiites: Believed Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-

law) was designated his successor Divinely inspired religious leaders who were

empowered to read & interpret the QuranSunnis: Believed a pious male Muslim from

Muhammad’s tribe could be the leader of the religious community Viewed as a political leader of the religious

community without divine or prophetic function Majority of Muslims today

Sufis

3rd tradition of Islam emergedMuslim mystics that sought communion with God through meditation, fasting, and other rituals

Some were believed to have miraculous powers

Umayyad Caliphs

Sunni caliphs Capital in Damascus, SyriaExpanded Muslim landsTreated conquered people fairly

Did not try to convert “People of the Book” because of the tax they were required to pay

Problems with leadership lead to their decline

Rise of Abbasids

Shiites supported Abu al-Abbas- descended from Muhammad’s uncle

He had living Umayyad killed- only one escaped to Spain

Made many changes- Equality of all Muslims Reached its greatest wealth Moved capital from Damascus to Baghdad (Persian

territory)

Muslim Empire Declines

Empire began to fragment with different Shiite rulers coming to power

Seljuk Turks migrated into Middle East from Central Asia Took over Baghdad but left Abbasid caliph as a

figureheadMongols (Genghis Khan) left Central Asia

across Southwest Asia Looted and burned Baghdad, killing the last

Abbasid caliph Later Mongols converted to Islam

SECTION 3

Muslim Civilization’s Golden Age

Social and Economic Advances

Vast trading networkLed to new business practicesDeveloped a system of accountingAgriculture flourished

Social MobilityCould move up in society with

accomplishmentsHelped free slaves

Muslim Art, Literature, and Architecture

Reflected diverse tradition s of various people under the Muslim ruleGreeks, Romans, Persians, and Indians

Prized the art of storytelling1001 Nights- Best known collection of

stories Perfected skills in calligraphy

Centers of Learning

Established Baghdad as the greatest Muslim center of learningCairo, Cordoba, and Timbuktu are

also centers of learningScholars made advances in philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and other fields

Math & Medicine

Al-Khwarizmi pioneered algebraWrote a standard mathematics

textbook used in EuropePharmacists and Physicians had to pass a standardized test

Learned to treat cataracts Created medical textbooks

SEC. 4

India’s Muslim Empire

Delhi Sultanate

After fall of Gupta Empire- India fragmented Trade networks linked India to Middle East,

Southeast Asia, and ChinaSultan Muhmud of Ghanzi made Delhi his capital

Marked the start of Muslim rule in northern India Muslims successful because Hindu princes battled each

other instead of unitingMuslim rule brought changes to Indian

Government and society1398: Tamerlane invaded India

India again fragmented into Hindu and Muslim states

Muslims and Hindus Clash

Muslim conquest of Northern India inflicted disaster on Hindus and Buddhists Widespread destruction of Buddhist temples Many Hindus were killed In time relations became more peaceful

Eventually Delhi Sultans grew more tolerant of their Hindu subjects Hinduism was ultimately seen as a monotheistic

religion Hindus could practice their religion as long as they

paid their poll tax Lower caste Hindus began to convert to Islam

Mughal India

1526: Turkish and Mongol armies poured into India Led by Babur- claimed descendent of Genghis Khan

and TamerlaneMet sultan Ibrahim’s army North of Delhi

Defeated Delhi sultanate and set up Mughal (Persian word for Mongol) Dynasty

Stretched from Himalayas to the Deccan PlateauChief builder of Mughal empire was Babur’s

grandson- Akbar

Akbar the Great (1556-1605)

He was a Muslim, but gained support of Hindu subjects He opened government jobs to Hindus of all castes Treated Hindu princes as his partners in ruling the empire Ended the tax on non-Muslims, married a Hindu princess

Hoped to promote religious harmony through tolerance

Used paid officials instead of hereditary officeholders

Modernized the armyEncouraged international trade and introduced land

reforms

Akbar’s Successors

Akbar’s son- Jahangir: weaker ruler than his father Left most details of government to his wife Nur Jahan

Akbar’s grandson- Shah Jahan: high point of Mughal literature, art and architecture Had Taj Mahal built for his deceased wife and mother

of his 14 children Planned to have a twin structure built next to Taj

Mahal but his son usurped the throne and imprisoned until he died

SECTION 5

Ottomans VS Safavids

Ottoman Empire (Sunni Muslims)

They were a Turkish-speaking nomadic people who migrated from Central Asia into Northwest Asia Minor

Mehmet II succeeded in capturing Constantinople Cannons helped the Ottomans out power the

Byzantines Renamed the capital Istanbul

Suleiman: “The Lawgiver” & Suleiman the Magnificent Extended the Ottoman Empire to be the largest and

most powerful empire in Europe and the Middle East for centuries

After Suleiman’s death, the empire began to decline Killed two of his able sons because they were

suspected of treasonUnder Selim II (Suleiman’s son) the

bureaucracy became corruptEuropean advances left Ottomans behind Other empires began to conquer Ottoman

lands

Safavids (Shiite Muslims)

This dynasty had united an empire in Persia (Present day Iran)

Were forced into constant warfare over religion

Best known King- Shah Abbas (the Great)Used force and diplomacy against OttomansTolerated non-MuslimsSafavids declined after death of Shah Abbas