The Heritage of the Middle East

What to Look for in the Unit:• Islam was the third major religion to

come out of the Middle East and spread around the world.

• Preserved ancient traditions and cultures and also made advances of it’s own.

• Arabs and than the Ottomans made large empires in the Middle East and North Africa.

• European imperialism helped to make the Middle East fight for independence.

The Adventures of Ibn Battuta

• Left Morocco June 14th 1325 to go to Mecca and see the tomb of Mohammad

• Traveled the world for 30 years and met over 60 monarchs

• Traveled over 75,000 miles by both foot and camel caravan

• Visited the areas of:– Nile Valley, Fertile Crescent, Asia Minor,

India, China and West Africa • All of these areas were under the

Muslim Empire

The Beginning of Islam • Muhammad became a prophet for the religion

known as Islam • According to the beliefs over the next 12 years

God (Allah) talked to Muhammad and this created the Koran– Koran- the holy book of Islam (similar to the Bible)

• During 600-700 Islam spread across the Middle East to Africa, Asia and Europe

• Almost 1/5th of the world’s people today are Muslim

From a Manuscript written in 1498

The Beginnings of Islam

• Begin in the Arabian Peninsula where it was mostly desert area

• The people living there (Arabs) were mostly nomads and lived all over

• Two biggest towns were Mecca and Yathrib – Connected by a main trade route from Arabia to the

Mediterranean Sea • Kabba- sacred shrine that housed the image of Arab

gods• Black Stone- a meteorite that was believed to be sent

from heaven • Both of these things existed before Muhammad’s time

The Beginnings of Islam

Muhammad: The Prophet • Born in Mecca around 570 A.D • Worked for a wealthy widow named Khadija

when he was 25– Led caravans across the desert to Syria and Palestine

• Married Khadija, who convinced him to go and fast and pray and find God

• Had a vision of Gabriel (an angel) telling him to go and spread God’s word

• Many Arabs did not believe that there was only one God as Muhammad said and he left Mecca to go to Yathrib (later called Medina) in 622 A.D

Muhammad: The Prophet

• Migrating from Mecca to Medina was called the Hejira and was the turning point for Islam

• It was the beginning of the spread of Islam across the region

• Captured Mecca in 630 and smashed all the figures of other Gods in the Kabba than he dedicated the Black Stone to Islam

• Muhammad died in 632 after having spread Islam all the way across the Arabian Penisula

What is Islam?• “La ilaba illa Allah: Muhammadun rasulu Allah.”– Means- “No God but Allah: Muhammad is the

prophet of Allah.”• The word Islam translates to mean “Submission” • A Muslim is someone who submits to God • This is the religion that spreads across the area

and through which large empires are created.

Comparison Questions1.) Looking at Christianity, Judaism and Islam what are some similarities that you might find between them?2.) What are differences that you see between the three of them?

The 5 Pillars of Islam: Duties of a Muslim • First Pillar– Proclaim that they only

believe in one God (Allah)

– Accept that God’s message was only revealed to Muhammad

– They revere other prophets like Abraham, Moses and Jesus but Muhammad is the most important

– They do not worship him as a God

• Second Pillar– Must pray five times a

day – Facing the holy city of

Mecca, wherever they are in the world

– Prayer rugs and copies of the Koran can be used

The 5 Pillars of Islam: Duties of a Muslim • Third Pillar– Charity to poor people and

people that are old– Caring and compassion in

other words– Remember that Islam

teaches non-violence as well

• Fourth Pillar– Fasting during the holy

month of Ramadan– The ninth month in the

Muslim calendar – Gabrial (the Angel) spoke

to Muhammad during this month

– Also the month of the hejira

– No eating or drinking from dawn till sunset during Ramadan

The 5 Pillars of Islam: Duties of a Muslim • Fifth Pillar– The Hajj- pilgrimage to

the holy city of Mecca – All Muslims who are

able are required to make the journey once in their lives

– Imagine having to travel to Mecca from wherever you live anywhere in the world

– To the right is a picture of Mecca at the site of the Kabba

The Koran

• This is the sacred book of Islam • Believe that the Koran contains the exact words

of God as revealed to Muhammad• Basis for all aspects of a Muslims life:– Religion, Politics, Law, Economic and Social Issues

• For many years Muslims were forbidden to translate the Koran from Arabic to any other language

People of the Book • Jews and Christians influenced the development of

Islam as Muhammad met them on his travels• Similarities to the three religions:– Monotheistic– Believe in a final day of judgment – Holy book and Prophet – Teaching non-violence – Ethical conduct (how to act and behave)

• Muhammad called Jews and Christians- people of the book– Ahl al-dhimma – protected people and were to be

treated with tolerance

Expanding Islam • Spread very quickly after the death of Muhammad • By 732 Muslim Empire controlled from the Indus

River to the Atlantic Ocean (see page 572)• Included peoples from:– Persia, Arabia, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa and Spain

• Largest empire in the region in history • Actually had an empire on three different

continents at the same time– Asia, Africa, and Europe

Expansion of Islam • Reasons for Success – Arab armies were united

with their beliefs – Jihad – struggle in God’s

service – Lure of riches and wealth– Many conquered peoples

found Islam appealing – Muslims did not force their

religion on others– People could worship their

own gods if they got conquered

• Divisions within Islam– Within 30 years of

Muhammad's death a major division occurred

– Sunni and Shiite Muslims split from one another

– Arguing over who should become the next Caliph- successor to the Prophet

– This struggle still exists today in the Middle East

Arab Empires• Umayyad Dynasty– 661 to 750 ruled the Arab

World – Damascus, Syria was their

capital – Emphasized Arab culture

throughout their reign– Arabic was spoken and the

highest jobs went to Arabs– Overthrown in 750 by non-

Arabs who felt discriminated against

• Abbassid Dynasty – 750 to 1258 ruled the Arab

World – Baghdad, Iraq was their

capital – Home to more than 1

million people at the height of power

– Many building projects:• Mosques, irrigation

systems, libraries, hospitals, public baths and schools

– Included many different peoples in their empire

Golden Age of Muslim Civilization • Blended Greek, Persian and Indian cultures • Wealthy and powerful trading empire gave them

money and influence– Created banks and the idea of credit – Receipts and Bills were created to organize and track

orders• Learning and education were stressed • Libraries and schools were setup that were well

ahead of anything in Europe at the time