Warm-Up C2

If YOU were there …

You are a farmer living in a village on the coast of India. For centuries, your people have raised cotton and spunits fibers into a soft fabric. One day, a ship arrives in the harbor carrying Muslim traders from far away. They bring interesting goods you have never seen before. They also bring new ideas.

What IDEAS might you learn from the traders?

ReligionOrigin of Islam • Location: Arabian Peninsula

(in the city of Mecca), south of Mesopotamia deep in the desert.

• Founder: Mohammed

Where did Islam begin?

Who began the religion of Islam?

ReligionBeliefs of Islam

• Islam believes that God (Allah) speaks through prophets.

• Islam recognizes many of the prophets of Judaism and Christianity; including Jesus.

• Islam believes Mohammed is the greatest and final prophet of God (Allah).

How does Islam believe Allah speaks to humanity?

Who is the greatest and final prophet?

ReligionBeliefs of Islam • Islam’s beliefs were written

down by Mohammed in their most sacred book called the Qur’an.

• One of the most important beliefs of Islam is that there is only one God (Allah); monotheism.

• Islam believes that God (Allah) is just and rewards man according to his deeds.

Where can the beliefs of Islam be found?

Is Islam monotheistic or polytheistic?

What is a major belief about God (Allah) in Islam?

ReligionBeliefs of Islam FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

1. Faith: only one God, and his prophet is Mohammed

2. Prayer: Pray five times a day facing Mecca (holiest city)

3. Alms: pay the zakat (a 2.5% charity tax) and other donations to the needy

4. Fasting: During the month of Ramadan (the month when Mohammed wrote down the Qur’an).

5. Hajj: make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once if economically and physically possible.

ReligionDiffusion of Islam • Islam spread quickly within a

100 years of Mohammed’s death.

• Muslims conquered the whole Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, Persia, northern Africa, and Spain.

• This created a massive Islamic Empire that made Islam the official religion of the region.

Where did the Islamic Empire spread to?

ReligionDiffusion of Islam • After the death of

Mohammed, a Caliph ruled the Islamic Empire.

• Sunni Muslims believe the Caliph can be any good Muslim man.

• Shiite Muslims believe the Caliph must be a descendent of Mohammed.

Who ruled the Islamic Empire?

What is the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

ReligionDiffusion of Islam • Islam spread peacefully to

West Africa, India, and Southeast Asia through trade.

• Islam would also spread into Eastern Europe by destroying the Byzantine Empire.

Where did Islam spread peacefully? How?

How did Islam spread into Eastern Europe?

Choose 6 of the 101. Where did Islam begin?2. Who began the religion of Islam and is believed to be the greatest

prophet?3. Where can Islamic beliefs be found?4. Is Islam monotheistic or polytheistic?5. Name all five pillars of Islam.6. Where and how did the beliefs of Islam spread within the first 100

years after the prophet’s death?7. Who ruled the Islamic Empire?8. What is the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?9. Where did Islam spread peacefully? How?10. How did Islam spread into Eastern Europe?