Chapter 8

AP World History
The Rise of Islam
(600-1200)
Key Points:
How did the Arab conquests grow out of the career
of Muhammad?
Why did the caliphate break up?
How did Muslim societies differ from region to
region?
What was the relationship between urbanization
and the development of Islamic
culture?

The Origins of Islam

The Arabian Peninsula Before Muhammad
Although trade spread through out the sea areas and ports, the
central plains and deserts of Arabia were mostly ignored by the
civilized world. This desert place was the area for nomadic tribes
and not the main sea ferring traders. At the same time, the
empty center of Arabia was also the place where Islam first took
form.
Although these central areas tended to be desolated, caravan
trading allowed certain caravan trading cities to sprang to
existence. Among these cities include Mecca. This was an area in
which religion intermingled.

Muhammad in Mecca
Muhammad was born in 570. At around 610, he started
meditating. During the "Night of Power and Excellence" he was
spoken to by the angel Gabriel. Throughout his life, he had
revelations with God (Allah) and shared this information only with
this closet friends and family. Muhammad died in 632.
Muhammad was known as the last messenger of God. For people
who follow and submit to Islam, the will of God, are called
Muslims. The historical context of Islam is very similar to
Christianity and Judaism. However, early Muslims believed that
the words of Muhammad were more pure than the other religions'
preach of God because Muhammad's revelations did not go
through an editing process.
The Formation of Umma
To avoid hostility, Mohammad's followers fled Mecca and settled
at Medina in 622. This was the first Umma, a society solely
focused to Islam. Abu Bakr became the first Caliph 24 hours after
Muhammad's death. He was Muhammad's successor and started
the first Islamic Caliphate. Abu Bakr also followed in the Muslim
traditions of the 5 Pillars of Islam (similar, in idea, to the 10
commandments of Christianity).
The Quran was the book in which Abu Bakr led a group to
organize Mohammad's revelations and thoughts. It was made
around 650. Soon afterwards, the Islamic nations broke out into
civil war deciding on the Caliphs. This civil war passed from one
generation to the next in which Shi'ites were pitted against
Sunnis.

The Formation of the Umma

The Rise and Fall of the Caliphate

(632-1258)
The Islamic Conquests (632-711)
The Islamic conquests and campaigns began under the 2nd
caliphate named Umar. At around 711, Islamic forces had
captured Egypt, Spain, Northern India, Tunisia, and Northern
Africa. The last of the Sasanid Shah, Yazdigird III, was also
defeated by the Muslims. The authority of Medina was also
reconfirmed during the Abu Bakr caliphate. [Is this the same
Medina as the Persian Medina?]During the Umar caliphate, it was
decided that Arabs could not own the land that they conquered.
During the conquests, the lower percentage of Arab Muslim
people lived off the taxes collected from the Non-Islamic
conquered. There was also a lack of significant attempt to spread
the Islamic religion. The Islamic traditions and language was not
the majority.

The Umayyad and Early Abbasid Caliphates

(661-850)
Slowly during the caliphate, the Muslim government spread
standards (coins and language) according to Islamic culture. The
families of Muhammad Ali fought each other in turmoil fighting for
the position of Caliph. The last of the Abbasid family was killed by
the Mongols in during an invasion to Baghdad.
Baghdad was made during this period. The Arabian Nights was
also written during this time. Eventually more and more people
converted to Islam.

Political Fragmentation (850-1050)

As always, once the Muslim empire grew too large, it started to
crumble under its own weight. The long distances with the slow
communications of ancient times meant extreme difficulties in
attempting to organize politics. The Abbasid caliphate finally fell
at around 945.
The African areas also were involved in Islam. Ghana was the
land of gold in Islamic texts. Parts of Africa were among the few
areas that converted to Islam peacefully. Cairo also became a
center of Islam. Spain and its cities grew with the conversion to
Islam.

Assault from Within and Without (1050-

1258)
The Byzantine empire was crushed during the battle of Manzikert
in 1071. Anatolia was open to the Turkish occupation. Princes
fought for the title of Sultan while Sunnis and Shi'ites were still
fighting.
During the time, the first crusades occurred in 1099. The
Christians took control of Jerusalem. Afterwards, the Islamic
forces banned together again and first crushed the Fatimid
dynasty in Egypt (the self-declared rulers) and then took back
Jerusalem. Under Saladin, Egypt and Syria were connected.
During the time, the Mongols came by and basically destroyed
and killed many people.

Islamic Civilization
Law and Dogma
the Law of Islam is the Shari'a. At the time of Muhammad, there
was not really a dedicated Muslim law. Islamic law had to slowly
develop over time. Some believed it was best to follow
Muhammad's ways by studying the Hadith. Later, most scholars
believed that Ali's personal behaviors set the best example for
Islamic ways.

Converts and Cities

To convert to Islam, a person simply stated that "There is no God
but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." Many
converted people could not actually understand the Quran nor
many other Islamic documents. They depended on finding things
out by themselves.

Islam, Women, and Slaves

Women hardly traveled. Women were to cover themselves when
traveling outside. In addition, men could be polygamists.
However, women did have a lot of power, especially in land
owning. Their power was higher than that of Christian or Jewish
women. Islam allowed slavery but forbade the enslavement of
other Muslims of people of the Book: Jews, Christians, and
Zoroastrians.

The Recentering of Islam

Conclusion
Among the ancient religions, Islam was one of the great ones that
actually ruled an empire and continued its existence today.