Most early Arabian people were nomadic Bedouins. They herded camels, goats, and sheep, and lived in tents. They were polytheistic, and in Mecca worshiped at a shrine called the Kaaba.

Muhammad (Mohammed)570: born in Mecca, married into money610: Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad, saying he would be the messenger of Allah (God), last Prophet after Abraham, Moses, Jesus622: Not accepted in Mecca, fled to Medina – the Hegira (hih-JY-ruh)630: Mecca surrendered to Muhammad and accepted Islam632: Before Muhammad died, Arabian tribes were united as Muslims

IslamSame God as Christians and JewsQur’an = Holy bookMust surrender to GodPray in a MosqueFollow Five Pillars of Islammonotheistic

Islamic Conquests – Middle East, N. Africa, India, Spain

REASONS Religious passion – wanted to spread the

word of GodJihad “Holy War” – promised Paradise, if

killedOverpopulationWeakness of other empires

Islamic RuleReligious choices: convert, pay higher taxes, or dieClass system: Arab Muslims, Non-Arab Muslims, Non-Muslims

Islam splits

Shi’ites (SHEE-eytz) Believed the Caliph (leader) should be a direct descendant of Muhammad

Sunni (SOON-ee) Caliph should be the best man for the job

Philosophy and Science Advances Middle Ages Arabic Learning thrived during the Middle Ages Islamic world saved civilization

Works of Plato and Aristotle translated

- World is round

b. Mathematics - Arabic Numbers used – Algebra (zero) - Algebra

c. Medicine Disease: first to look at disease from contaminated water/ knew of and looked at diseases from a scientific perspective

Islamic Art and Architecture Mixture of Persian/Arab/Turkish culture Arts b. geometric designs c. mosques d. not many figures