What is the difference between Islam and

Muslim?
Islam is the religion, Muslim is a person
belonging to the religion
Which 3 continents did Arabia connect?
Europe, Asia, Africa
Who are considered people of the book?
Christians, Jews, Muslims
Who is the founder of the Islam religion?
Muhammad
When Muhammad died in 632,
community wasnt sure how to choose a
leader, but are sure they need to spread
the message of Allah
Muhammad didnt name a successor, so
Muslim community selected Abu-Bakr,
his friend and follower to become the first
caliph- or successor
Abu-Bakr and next 3 elected caliphs-
Umar, Uthman and Ali all knew
Muhammad, and used Quran and
actions as guides to leadership
This is why they are known as rightly
guided caliphs
Period of rule is called caliphate
Promised he would uphold what
Muhammad stood for
But after the prophets death some tribes
abandoned Islam and refused to pay taxes
Some people declared themselves as
prophets
Abu-Bakr used military force to reassert
Muhammads efforts in the community and
the army became well trained and
disciplined
Muslim state controlled all of Arabia
Became second caliph in 634 after Abu-
Bakr died
Highly disciplined armies conquered
Syria and lower Egypt, which were part of
Byzantine Empire
Also took parts of Persian Empire


Next two caliphs, Uthman and Ali
expanded Muslim territory east and west
Were able to gain support of armies and
navies of conquered land
Used these forces to help conquer more
land
By 750, Muslim Empire stretched 6,000
miles- 2 times the distance across the
United States
Muslims were willing to struggle to
defend Islam
Drew energy and inspiration from faith
Muslim military successful due to faith of
soldiers
Armies were well disciplined and well
commanded
Took advantage of weaknesses in other
empires: the Byzantine and Persian
empires
Persian and Byzantine empires had been in
conflict for a long time
By the time Muslim armies invaded their
lands both empires were exhausted
militarily
People in those regions who didnt support
the official religions (Christianity or
Zoroastrianism) had been persecuted
These people saw the Muslims as
liberators
Many conquered people chose to accept
Islam
Quran forbade forced conversion, so
Muslims allowed people to keep own
religion

Jews and Christians were people of the
book and received special consideration
They paid a poll tax each year so they
wouldnt have to serve in the military
Even though there was religious tolerance,
other religions not allowed to spread
religion
Christians and Jews played important roles
as officials and scholars in the Muslim state
Murder of Uthman in 656 triggered a civil
war
Ali, Muhammads cousin and son-in-law,
was the natural choice for replacement,
but he was assassinated
The system of electing a caliph died with
him
A family known as the Umayyads came
to power
Set up hereditary system of succession
Changed the capital from Mecca to
Damascus in recently conquered Syria
Thought it would be easier to control
conquered territories from new location
Arab Muslims felt capital was too far
away from their lands
Umayyads abandoned the simple life of
caliphs and surrounded themselves with
wealth and extravagances
Wealth and luxury angered the Muslim
community, but accepted their rule to
keep peace
A minority did resist and believed the
caliph should be a relative of the prophet
This group was called Shia meaning
party of Ali
Those who didnt resist the rule of the
Umayyads became known as Sunni,
meaning followers of Muhammads
example
However, some Sunni were concerned
with the lifestyle of the Umayyads and
worried they had become to involved in
worldly affairs and lost touch with religion
Another group who reacted to the lush
life of the Umayyads
Chose a life of poverty and devotion,
similar to a Christian monk
Religious and political opposition to the
Umayyad caliphate led to its downfall
Rebel groups overthrew the Umayadds in
750
The Abbasids, a powerful rebel group
took control of the empire
After the Abbasids took control in 750,
they murder members of the Umayyad
family
Only Prince Abd al-Rahman escaped,
and moved to Spain
Prince al-Rahman set up a new
Umayyad dynasty in Spain
Spain had already been conquered and
settled by Muslims from North Africa,
known as the Berbers
The Berbers formed the extraordinary
Muslim state called al-Andalus
Their strength lay in the lands of Iraq,
Iran and central Asia, the former lands of
the Persian Empire
Moved the capital from Damascus to
Baghdad in south Iraq
Location gave access to goods, trade
routes, gold and information on the rest
of the empire
Developed strong bureaucracy
Treasury kept track of money flow
Chancery prepared letters and
documents
Special dept. managed the army
Sent diplomats to other royal courts
throughout Europe to develop good
relationships
Taxed land, imports, exports and non-
Muslims wealth to pay for bureaucracy
Abbasids constantly trying to hold empire
together, and hold off outside attacks. They
viewed their relationship with the Kingdom
of Franks ruled by Charlemagne extremely
important, and viewed the Franks as
possible allies against the Umayyads in
Spain. Caliph Harun al-Rashid sent an
envoy with gifts to Charlemagne's court
including an elephant named Abu al-Abbas,
the only elephant the caliph owned. The trip
was a success- Charlemagne defeated the
Umayyads early in his reign

Abbasid caliphate lasted 750- 1258
During that time they were able to
increase authority by consulting with
religious leaders
But they failed to keep control of
enormous territory
Independent Muslim states sprang up
and local leaders dominated many
smaller regions
Named after Muhammads daughter
Fatima
Began in north Africa, spreading to
western Arabia and Syria
Although they were politically divided, the
Abbasid Empire and smaller powers
stayed unified through religion, language,
trade, and the economy
2 major sea-trading zones:
1. Mediterranean Sea
2. Indian Ocean
Water linked the Muslim Empire into sea
network
The land connected the Silk Roads of
China and India with Europe and Asia

Muslims merchants realize they only
needed a single language, Arabic and
single currency, the Abbasid dinar to travel
from Cordoba to Baghdad and onto China
Muslims create banks to encourage flow
of trade
Offered letters of credit called sakks (in
Europe, the pronunciation is check)
The idea of using checks dates back to
the Muslim Empire
Mix of Muslims, Christians and Jews
created a cosmopolitan atmosphere in
the city of Cordoba (Spain)
City attracted poets, philosophers,
scientists and doctors
City became the center of Muslim culture
with 70 libraries, 700 mosques and 27
free schools
Period of achievements in the arts and
sciences followed