Post on 22-Jun-2015
Muhammad (570-632)Caravan trader living in MeccaFirst teachings of the Koran revealed by the
Angel Gabriel in 610Koran – the Islamic holy bookRejected by the people of MeccaAccepted by the people of Medina (Medina was
the first Muslim city)Led an army back to Mecca in 632 and
conquered the city without a fightDied in 632Seen as a prophet – the final prophet from God
Islam – submission to AllahMuslim – one who submits to AllahAllah – Arabic word for God (Arabic Christians
and Jews use the same word)
Muslims pray to the same god as Christians and Jews
Muslims see Jesus as a very holy man, but still a man (a prophet from God
Jews and Christians are considered “people of the book”
One god, Allah and Mohammad is the Prophet
Prayer – 5X/day facing MeccaAlms to the poorFasting during RamadanThe Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca
The Five Pillars
Largely through military conquest Jihad (holy war) Within 100 years,
Muslims conquer territory from Holy Land to the Iberian Peninsula
Displays weakness of Byzantine Empire
Stopped in the West at the Battle of Tours (732)The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
–To the West (North Africa and Europe)
Largely through trade Attraction as a
religion of salvation Arab traders control
trade throughout the Indian Ocean
Largest Islamic country is Indonesia
India is 25% Muslim Spices and tea trade
will be important for later units
TheTaj Mahal
–To the East (Asia and India)
Attraction as a religion of salvation
Berber traders cross the Sahara Desert
Timbuktu in Mali becomes a center of Islamic learning with a great library
Islamic proverb states that "Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, but the word of God and the treasures of wisdom come from Timbuktu.“Mosque in Timbuktu
Draws on Greek, Persian, and Indian sources
Mathematics, astronomy and medicine
Idea that learning is a gift from Allah
Algebra, the Zero and Surgery
Developed the first hospitals where the sick could be treated by professionals
Advances become important components of later western culture, although it will take Christian loses in the Crusades to bring many Arab cultural ideas to Europe
Islamic Science and Medicine