Sunni and ShiiteSunni

Follow custom of community (sunna). Believe inspiration comes from example of Muhammad

90% of Muslims

Shiite True

descendants are of Ali and Fatima’s children

Live in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen

No successor named after Muhammad

died Abu Bakr-Muhammad’s father-in-law and

1st caliph. Reunited Muslims and converted last Arab tribe to Islam

After Ali died a Meccan clan set up Ummayyad (caliphate). Dynasty of Sunni caliphs ruled Muslim empire until 750.

After Muhammad

Weakened Byzantine and Persian empires

Welcomed Arabs as liberators Fighting method-Bedouin camel

and horse cavalry-mobile and aggressive

Tax on non-Muslims in conquered areas

Many converted- equality, simple, no hierarchy

Factors for Success

Fall of Umayyads and Rise of Abbasids

Umayyads While conquests

wealth went to Umayyads. When they stopped tensions built between wealthy Arabs and those who had less

Criticized and wanted ways of early caliphs

Considered illegitimate rulers of Islamic community

Abbasids Abu al-Abbas founder Captured Damascus

750 and dynasty lasted until 1258

Had member of Umayyad family killed.

All but one escaped and went to Spain where they were more tolerant and thrived

The Crusades

900-Seljuk Turks came from Central Asia to Middle East

1055-Suljuk sultan controlled Baghdad and kept caliph as figurehead

1095-Pushed into Asia Minor and prevented Christians from going to Jerusalem.

Muslim scholars reintroduced knowledge of Greco-Roman civilization to later Europeans.

United diverse cultures-translated Greek, Hindu and Buddhist text

Social Mobility Up, slavery common but Islamic law encouraged freeing slaves as act of charity.

Religion shaped arts and literature; banned idol worship and artists could not portray God or human figures in religious art

Muslim Golden Era

Muslim Golden Era

Architecture-domed mosques, adopted from Byzantine buildings; symbolic of Muslim architecture

Artists skilled in calligraphy-decorated on buildings

Poetry- oral tradition, wrote about desert journeys, battles, joy of clans, chivalry and romance of nomadic life

Mathematics- al-Khwarizmi pioneered study of

algebra. 800s-wrote book that was translated into Latin. Became standard textbook in Europe.

Medicine-Based knowledge on Ancient Greeks. Physicians and pharmacists had to pass test. Set up hospitals

Muslim Golden Era

India

Muslims mingled with Indians and each civilization absorbed elements from each other.

550-Gupta empire fell and India split, princes battled for control

1000-Muslim Turks and Afghans moved to India

Low caste Hindus converted to Islam

1200s-scholars and adventurers fled Baghdad

to India. Brought Persian and Greek knowledge 1398- Tamerlane invades India, enslaved

thousand artisans to build capital @ Samarkand

Delhi slowly recovered. Sultans no longer controlled empire and India split. Rival Hindu and Muslim states

Muslims in India

Hinduism-ancient religion evolved

over thousand years. Sacred texts, prayed before statues representing gods/goddess. Caste system; celebrated with music and dance

Islam-newer faith with single sacred text; monotheistic. No religious hierarchy. Did not celebrate with music and dance.

Hindus and Muslims in India

Taj Mahal

Over time Delhi sultans grew more tolerant of Hindu subjects. Allowed to practice, paid a poll tax.

Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal as tomb for her when she died. Greatest monument of Mughal empire.