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The Arab Empire
Reviewing Islam
• Question…Who was the prophet of Islam?– Answer…Muhammad
• Question…What was Islam’s holy city?– Answer…Mecca
• Question…Where is was this city located?– Answer…Modern day Saudi Arabia.
• Question…What was the Hijra?– Answer…Muhammad fled Mecca for the
city of Medinah only to come back later with an army of followers and conquer the city in the name of Allah.
• Question…What are the five pillars of Islam?– Answer…Testimony, prayer, alms-giving, fasting during Ramadan, Hajj
Arab Rule• Muhammad dies in
632AD– Muhammad’s father-in-
law, Abu Bakr, chosen as the next leader of Islam
– Caliph• Abu Bakr united the
Muslims into one empire.– Begins to expand.
• Jihad– Means “struggle” in
arabic.– Fair, defensive.– Permitted in the Qu’ran.
Question: What empire is right next to the Arab Empire?
Arab Empire Expands
•Arabs take Egypt, Syria, and the Persian Empire.
Answer = Byzantine Empire!
ARABS
Tolerant Rulers• In conquered areas,
Christians and Jews were allowed to continue to practice their religions.
• Tolerant of “People of the Book”– Follow scriptures
revealed to them before Muhammad.
• Must still obey Muslim rule and pay taxes.
The Umayyads• When Abu Bakr dies, there
was no clear choice for Caliph– One was Ali, Muhammad’s
son-in-law.– Fights against Mu’awiyah
(powerful general) for caliphate.
• Mu’awiyah takes over in 661 A.D.– Wants to make the caliphate
a hereditary position.
• Forms the Umayyad dynasty– Continues expanding
Mu’awiyah Expands the Arab (Now called Umayyad) Empire
•Arabs conquer Berbers and Spain by 725 A.D.
•Arab expansion into Europe was stopped with their defeat at the Battle of Tours (vs. the Franks) in 732 A.D.
ARABS
Islam Splits!• The large size of the
Umayyad Empire led to problems…
• There is a failed revolt led by Ali Hussein– Ali Hussein = second son to
Ali (son-in-law of Muhammad).
• This struggle led to the split of Islam…– Shia = Believe only
descendents of Ali can be Caliph.
– Sunni = Accepted Umayyad rule.
• Now, believe Caliphs must be elected.
Abbasid Dynasty• Eventually the
Umayyad’s are overthrown and the Abbasid Dynasty is established in 750 A.D.
• Key leader: Harun al-Rashid– “Golden age” of the
Arab Empire.• Advancements in arts
and learning.The Great Mosque of Samarra
Abbasids lose power
•When Harun al-Rashid died (809AD), parts of the empire begin to break away and establish independent dynasties.
•One part was the Turks…
MoroccoSpain
Egypt
The Seljuk Turks
• In 1055, a Turkish leader captured Baghdad and claimed himself sultan, or “holder of power.”
• Under new Turkish leadership, the Arab Empire began to increase pressure on their neighbors, the Byzantine Empire…
