Key Terms – Belief Systems

Judaism Abraham The Ten

Commandments The Old Testament Christianity Jesus Christ The New Testament Islam

Mohammed/Muhammad Hegira Qu'ran The Five Pillars of Faith Jihad Caliphate The Umayaad Caliphate Sunnis Shi'ites The Abbassid Caliphate

Judaism

Founded by Abraham → based upon the covenant he had with God (loyal followers in exchange for the Promised Land)

Based around Jerusalem in the Middle East

Built a small kingdom that would be dominated by larger forces such as the Romans

Judaism – Sacred Texts

Sacred Text → the Torah and the Old Testament

God was more fierce and vengeful

Life revolved around the Ten Commandments → rules/guidelines for behavior for Christians and Hebrews.

Christianity

Founded by the followers of Jesus Christ → Christian Messiah (son of God,chosen one) who was born between 7 BC and 4 BC and lived to 33 A.D.

Also based around Jerusalem.

Acquired a large amount of followers through the works of his missionaries known as apostles.

Christianity – Sacred Texts

Sacred Text for Christians was the Bible → composition of the Old Testament and New Testament.

New Testament → works of Jesus' apostles and their interpretations of Jesus' life.

God was forgiving and accommodating in the New Testament.

Islam

Islam → Arabic word for 'submit'; faith based on the works of the prophet Mohammed.

Mohammed → prophet who initiated the Islamic faith.

Sacred text of the Islamic faith was the Qu'ran

Mohammed's History Mohammed was a merchant and lived in a town

known as Mecca. Would refuse the Bedouin (traveling caravan

group) polytheistic beliefs and would find more truth in monotheistic beliefs.

Upon introduction of his ideas he would be forced to flee Mecca. His flight from Mecca to Medina would be known as the hegira.

Mohammed would return with a group of followers and establish the Islamic faith after removing all of the polytheistic idols in the churches of Mecca.

The Five Pillars of Faith

Muslims (Islamic followers) were to abide by the Five Pillars of Faith (guidelines for life in the Muslim faith).

Were seen as requirements to fulfill their religious duties: Faith → submit to Allah Prayer → pray 5x a day facing Mecca Hajj → make one pilgrimage to Mecca Alms → give to charity Fasting → fast during the month of Ramadaan

The Umayyad Caliphate (631-750) Islamic groups would

organize into political organizations known as caliphates → large tracts of territory governed by caliphs (rulers/followers of Mohammed)

Were tolerant rulers → allowed followers of other religions in their empire but gave them lower class status.

Umayyad Caliphate (cont.)

Breakdown of government led to a breakdown of Muslim society.

Upon the murder of Ali, a selected successor of Mohammed, a new faction of Muslims appeared known as Shi'ites (those that believe Mohammed's relatives should rule)

Umayyad rulers were Sunni Muslims (Muslims who believed that rulers did not have to descend from Mohammed)

Abbassids would use the luxurious lifestyles of the Umayyads as a weapon to remove them from power.

The Abbassid Caliphate (750-1258) Abbassids would force

out the Umayyads and begin to kill all relatives of the dynasty.

Many Umayyads would move to Spain and establish a Muslim kingdom centered around Grenada.

Eastern orientation of the new dynasty changed the cultural influences (From Damascus to Baghdad)

End of Abbassid Dynasty

Oppressive rule of the Abbassids led to constant infighting and banditry that would cut off sources of income to the kingdom.

Would be forced out of the east by Mongols, ended the Abbassid Dynasty.

Only the rulers of the west remained until the return of the Eastern Islamic peoples.