Chapter 11 LESSON 1 Notes: The Islamic Civilization

Warfare between the Byzantine and Persian Empires interrupted overland trade routes from East Asia.

Trade in spices, silk from

China, and cotton from

India shifted from overland trade routes to sea routes connecting India with Arabia and the

Red Sea. Overland caravans carried goods up the western coast of the

Arabian Peninsula. Cities and towns developed near water

wells along these caravan routes.

Which animal

was capable of

making long treks across dry

desert terrain?

Prologue:

Where is the Arabian Peninsula?

Which city is the “Pearl of the

Mediterranean?”

Alexandria, Egypt

Where is Alexandria?Where is the

Bosporus Strait?

What is the name of the city on the

Bosporus that was established as the

capital of the Byzantine Empire?

Constantinople

Once the Muslims conquer the Byzantine Empire, what do

they re-name Constantinople?

Istanbul

Where is the Red Sea?

Where is Constantinople / Istanbul?

I. Muhammad (570 – 632) and his beliefs A. Founded Islam (the 3rd monotheistic

world religion) born in Mecca [a city along one of

the many trade routes] (Makkah) in (Saudi) Arabia B. Occupation: a trade route caravan leader

who worked for his older wife C. Experiences a revelation (vision) of Angel

Gabriel to become the prophet (messenger) of the

one supreme God, Allah 1. Islam – “submission to the will of God” 2. Muslims a. followers of Islam b. “One who submits to the will of God”

D. Muhammad is forced to move to Medina (Madinah), later to be nicknamed the “city of the prophet” 1. His flight from Mecca to Medina becomes known as the Hegira (Hijra) (emigration); he flees when Meccan merchants threaten his life 2. Muhammad teaches for 8 yrs. in Medina until he returns to Mecca 3. Mecca surrenders to Muhammad peacefully 4. Muhammad dies in 632; the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem marks his ascension to Heaven

E. Muhammad’s teachings found in the Quran (“recital”), Islam’s holy book or scripture F. Jews and Christians are considered “People of the Book”

G. The Five Pillars (Obligations) of Islam 1. daily confession of faith by which all Muslims are equal 2. daily prayer, facing Mecca, “city and house of God built by Abraham” 3. giving to the poor (alms) 4. fasting during the holy month of Ramadan when the Quran was 1st revealed 5. to travel on a hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca at least once in a lifetime; to circle the Kaaba (most sacred site of Islam)

H. Caliphs as Muhammad’s successors after his death 1. Sunnis (traditional Muslims) elect leader from most worthy 2. Shi’ites (vocal minority) support Muhammad’s descendants as leaders

II. Contributions by the Islamic civilization during its Golden Age A. adopted Arabic numerals B. invented algebra C. developed trigonometry D. advances in astronomy,

geography, chemistry, medicine

E. founded the science of optics (the study

of light and its effect on sight) F. built temples called mosques G. Islamic cities such as Alexandria,

Egypt, Cordoba, Spain, and Baghdad (“Jewel

of Islam”) in Iraq flourished with art, literature, and education H. Arab doctors discovered that blood

moves to and from the heart; they diagnosed

many diseases including measles

III. Reasons for Islamic Conquests A. to spread the Islamic religion by jihad (holy war; “personal struggle”) B. to lessen overpopulation on Arabian Peninsula C. Byzantine and Persian Empires just too weak to resist invasions

IV. Islamic expansion at its height A. part of the Iberian Peninsula and the strait of Gibraltar B. most of North Africa (including land of the Carthaginians) C. Egypt (“Kemet”) D. region called Palestine (birthplace of Jesus) E. Persian Empire and the Middle East F. part of India G. all of Arabia

V. Islamic history in timeline

570…. Muhammad is born

622…. The Hegira occurs

630…. Mecca surrenders to Muhammad

632…. Muhammad dies

640…. Muslims begin conquests in Asia/N. Africa

711…. Muslims conquer part of Iberian Peninsula

750…. Islamic Golden Age begins

1200… Islamic Golden Age ends; Christian Crusades (holy wars) fail

1258…. Mongols capture Baghdad

1492…. last Islamic king in Spain surrenders to Catholic monarchs Ferdinand & Isabella

1683…. Muslims in Algeria, S. Russia, E. Europe are united under Ottoman Empire’s Turks

1798…. European kings colonize Islamic lands

1919…. Ottoman Empire dissolves into the state of Turkey following its loss in WWI

1940…. Arab Muslim states become independent 1948…. the United Nations (to compensate Jews for loss in the WWII Holocaust) carves out the state of Israel from Arab lands (Jerusalem as capital; holy city to Jews, Christians, & Muslims); resentment by Arabs Muslims

1962…. European colonial period ends

Present- Day…. conflicts continue between Jews/Arabs over lands in the Middle East

• Pearl of the Mediterranean

• Phoenician city that lost all three Punic Wars to Rome

• Iberian state conquered by the Muslims

• Most holy city to Jews and Christians; holy to Muslims for Dome of the Rock

• Most holy city to Muslims

• Sinai Peninsula

• Modern capital of Iraq; 1st city Muhammad converted to Islam

• 1st classical civilization; 2nd classical civilization