Building a Muslim EmpireBuilding a Muslim Empire

Can it be done after the death Can it be done after the death of Muhammad?of Muhammad?

Early Challenges to IslamEarly Challenges to Islam Muhammad dies without naming a Muhammad dies without naming a

successorsuccessor Eventually the community agrees to Eventually the community agrees to

Abu Bakr- Abu Bakr- Muhammad’s father-in-law Muhammad’s father-in-law and early convert to Islam, should be and early convert to Islam, should be the first the first caliphcaliph, or successor to , or successor to Muhammad.Muhammad.

Bakr tells the faithful, “If you worship Bakr tells the faithful, “If you worship Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. If Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. If you worship God, God is alive.”you worship God, God is alive.”

Arabs Unite under IslamArabs Unite under Islam Some Arabs refuse to Some Arabs refuse to

follow Abu and withdraw follow Abu and withdraw their loyalty to Islam. their loyalty to Islam.

Battles between tribes Battles between tribes begin but Abu is able to begin but Abu is able to reunite the Muslims. reunite the Muslims.

Now they begin military Now they begin military campaigns to convert campaigns to convert the remaining Arab the remaining Arab tribes to Islam. tribes to Islam.

Early VictoriesEarly Victories Byzantines and Persians (2 great Byzantines and Persians (2 great

empires) fighting for control of Arab empires) fighting for control of Arab lands. lands.

But now with the Arabs united they But now with the Arabs united they conquer parts of the Byzantine empire conquer parts of the Byzantine empire and defeat the Persians. and defeat the Persians.

The Arabs take over Palestine and The Arabs take over Palestine and Jerusalem. Jerusalem.

Divisions emerge within Divisions emerge within IslamIslamSunniSunni

Believe any good Believe any good Muslim could lead the Muslim could lead the community. Later community. Later compromise that the compromise that the leader should come leader should come from Muhammad’s from Muhammad’s tribe. The successor tribe. The successor is called a caliph. This is called a caliph. This compromise group is compromise group is the majority of the majority of Muslims today.Muslims today. 90%90%

ShiiteShiite Believed that Believed that

Muhammad’s son-Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali, should in-law, Ali, should be his successor. be his successor. He and his wife are He and his wife are divinely inspired divinely inspired religious leaders. religious leaders. 10%10% I need to

know this!!

What divides them?What divides them?SameSame

Believe in the Believe in the same God.same God.

Look to the Quran Look to the Quran for guidance. for guidance.

Follow the Pillars of Follow the Pillars of Islam. Islam.

DifferentDifferent Religious practice- Religious practice-

amount of prayeramount of prayer Law- Sunnis more Law- Sunnis more

liberal and want liberal and want leaders to be electedleaders to be elected

Daily life- marriage Daily life- marriage rules and inheritancerules and inheritance

Another group- SufisAnother group- Sufis Sufis-Sufis- Muslim mystics Muslim mystics

who sought communion who sought communion with God through with God through meditation, fasting and meditation, fasting and other rituals.other rituals.

Carried the faith to Carried the faith to remote villages. remote villages.

Whirling dervishes Whirling dervishes dance as a form of dance as a form of prayer. prayer.

Let’s watchLet’s watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AglGJYby_pQ

Umayyad Caliphs Build an Umayyad Caliphs Build an EmpireEmpire

After death of Ali, a Meccan clan sets After death of Ali, a Meccan clan sets up the up the UmayyadUmayyad caliphate- a dynasty caliphate- a dynasty of Sunni caliphs that will rule the of Sunni caliphs that will rule the Muslim empire until 750. Muslim empire until 750.

Many conquests from Spain to India. Many conquests from Spain to India.

Expanding the Muslim Expanding the Muslim EmpireEmpire

Conquer N. AfricaConquer N. Africa 711- conquer Spain711- conquer Spain 731- parts of France731- parts of France Fail to take over the Fail to take over the

Byzantine capital of Byzantine capital of Constantinople.Constantinople.

Reasons for Muslim SuccessReasons for Muslim Success Persian and Persian and

Byzantine empires Byzantine empires weakening. weakening.

Muslims seen as Muslims seen as liberators from older liberators from older harsh empires. harsh empires.

Bold fighting Bold fighting methods with the methods with the camel and horse camel and horse cavalry. cavalry.

Muslim armies had a Muslim armies had a desire to glorify their desire to glorify their religion. religion.

Conquered People Are Treated Conquered People Are Treated FairlyFairly

Taxed non-MuslimsTaxed non-Muslims Christians, Jews allowed to practice their Christians, Jews allowed to practice their

own faith and follow their own laws.own faith and follow their own laws. Jews and Christians play key roles as Jews and Christians play key roles as

officials, doctors and translators. officials, doctors and translators. But they urged Arab settlers to separate But they urged Arab settlers to separate

themselves and this created an Arab themselves and this created an Arab upper-class. upper-class.

People liked the idea that there was People liked the idea that there was equality of all believers, regardless of race, equality of all believers, regardless of race, gender, class and wealth gender, class and wealth

Decline of the Umayyad Decline of the Umayyad Caliphate Caliphate

ProblemsProblems1.1. Had to adapt from Had to adapt from

desert living to ruling desert living to ruling large cities. large cities.

2.2. Arabs given more Arabs given more privilegesprivileges

3.3. Problems between Problems between rich and poorrich and poor

4.4. Lavish lifestyle of the Lavish lifestyle of the caliphscaliphs

Rise of the AbbasidsRise of the Abbasids Discontented Discontented

Muslims find a leader Muslims find a leader in Abu al-Abbas.in Abu al-Abbas.

Captures DamascusCaptures Damascus Kills Umayyad familyKills Umayyad family He then founded the He then founded the

Abbasid Abbasid dynasty dynasty which lasts until which lasts until 1258. 1258.

ChangesChanges Dynasty based on equality of all Dynasty based on equality of all

MuslimsMuslims Stopped military conquestsStopped military conquests Discrimination of non-Arab Muslims Discrimination of non-Arab Muslims

endedended Encouraged learningEncouraged learning Capital moved to BaghdadCapital moved to Baghdad

Baghdad-Baghdad- the new capital the new capital Walls formed a circle with Walls formed a circle with

the palace in the middlethe palace in the middle Big in size and wealthBig in size and wealth Many markets, gardens Many markets, gardens

and mosques. and mosques. Domes and Domes and minarets- minarets-

slender towers of the slender towers of the mosques loomed mosques loomed overheadoverhead

5 times a day they climb 5 times a day they climb to the tops of the to the tops of the minarets and call the minarets and call the faithful to prayer. faithful to prayer.

Muslim culture in SpainMuslim culture in Spain One surviving One surviving

member of the member of the Umayyad family goes Umayyad family goes to Spain and starts to Spain and starts an independent an independent Muslim stateMuslim state

Tolerant of other Tolerant of other religionsreligions

The fortified palace The fortified palace of Alhambra builtof Alhambra built

Muslim Empire DeclinesMuslim Empire Declines Power fading in Egypt and elsewherePower fading in Egypt and elsewhere Shiite’s coming to power in placesShiite’s coming to power in places Invasions leading to chaosInvasions leading to chaos

Seljuk Turks take controlSeljuk Turks take control Moving in from central Moving in from central

AsiaAsia Seljuk Seljuk sultan-sultan- ruler ruler

controls Baghdad controls Baghdad Conflicts develop and Conflicts develop and

prevent Christian prevent Christian pilgrims from traveling pilgrims from traveling to Jerusalemto Jerusalem

This leads to the first This leads to the first CrusadeCrusade

Now it’s the MongolsNow it’s the Mongols 1216 the Mongols 1216 the Mongols

and Genghis Khan and Genghis Khan move across SW move across SW AsiaAsia

1258 Baghdad 1258 Baghdad burned and lootedburned and looted

Mongols would Mongols would later adopt Islamlater adopt Islam