World HistoryChapter 10B

The Spread of Islam

Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam to the Middle East

• When Muhammad died in 632A.D. he had not appointed his successor. Muslims believed that Allah wanted the Islamic religion to be spread all over the world and they needed effective leadership to accomplish this goal

• Ancient tribal traditions in Arabia called for a leader to be elected. In 632 Abu-Bakr was elected and he was called Caliph-which means successor or deputy

Abu-Bakr

Continued

• The first four Caliphs- Abu-Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali were called “The Rightly Guided Caliphs”

• They led the Muslim forces to victory and control of an area from Africa to India. They were successful for the following reasons:

1. The armies had a firm belief in their cause

2. These forces were disciplined and well led

Continued

3. The methods they used were new and effective

4. The Empires that they attacked, Persia and Byzantium, were weakened by warfare

The Muslim Conquerors Treated Defeated People Well

1. Conquered people were allowed to keep their religion

2. Jews and Christians received special treatment because they were “people of the book”

3. They paid a special tax to enable them to practice their religion free from persecution

Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis

• A civil war erupts when Uthman is assassinated. His successor Ali is also killed in 661A.D. After this Caliphs are no longer elected

Umayyad

• The Umayyad family comes to power and they make the caliphate a hereditary office. They move the capital of Islam to Damascus and their rule lasts until they are overthrown in 750

• The rule of the Umayyad Dynasty causes Islam to split into 3 groups

Umayyad Empire

Division of the Faith

• Shia-This group believes that the Caliph should be a relative of Muhammad. Shia means the party of Ali

• Sunni-This group believes in following Muhammad’s example

• Sufi-These people reacted against the luxury of the Umayyad Dynasty

Muslims Control Areas of Three Continents

• The Abbasid Dynasty comes to power in 750 A.D., after the overthrow of the Umayyad Dynasty

• They are based in Iran and Iraq and they move the capital to a new city called Baghdad. This city is located on ancient trade routes. This trade in gold and other goods makes Baghdad a very wealthy city

Links to the Mediterranean

• This Muslim trade network links the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean

• This trade connects India and China with Europe and Africa

• Arabic becomes the regions common language of trade

• The dinar becomes the currency of trade

Abbasid Dynasty

TA10C

Read Pages 273-279

Copy & Define Terms on Page 279

Copy & Answer Questions15, 16, 17, & 18 on Page 280