10.2 Islam Expands

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10.2 Islam Expands

• In spite of internal conflicts, the Muslims
  create a huge empire that includes land on three
  continents.

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Vocabulary

• caliph Highest political and religious leader in
  a Muslim government
• Umayyads Dynasty that ruled the Muslim Empire
  from A.D. 661 to 750
• Shia Branch of Islam whose members believe the
  first four caliphs are the rightful successors of
  Muhammad
• Sunni Branch of Islam whose members believe Ali
  and his descendants are the rightful successors
  of Muhammad

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Vocabulary

• Sufi Muslim who tries to achieve direct contact
  with God
• Abbasids Dynasty that ruled much of the Muslim
  Empire from A.D. 750 to 1258
• al-Andalus Muslim-ruled area in what is now Spain
• Fatimid Member of a Muslim dynasty that traced
  its ancestry to Muhammads daughter Fatima

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Muhammads Successors Spread Islam

• A New Leader
• In 632 Muhammad dies Muslims elect Abu-Bakr to
  be the first caliph.
• Caliphtitle for a Muslim leadermeans
  successor or deputy.

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Muhammads Successors Spread Islam

• Rightly Guided Caliphs
• The first four caliphs are guided by the Quran
  and Muhammads actions.
• Jihadan armed struggle against unbelieversis
  used to expand Islam.
• Muslims control all of Arabia, and armies conquer
  Syria and lower Egypt.
• By 750, the Muslim empire stretches from the
  Altantic Ocean to the Indus River.

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Muhammads Successors Spread Islam

• Reasons for Success
• Muslim armies are well disciplined and expertly
  commanded.
• Byzantine and Sassanid empires are weak from
  previous conflict.
• Persecuted citizens of these empires welcome
  Islam.
• People are attracted to Islams offer of equality
  and hope.

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Muhammads Successors Spread Islam

• Treatment of Conquered Peoples
• Muslim invaders tolerate other religions.
• Christians and Jews receive special consideration
  as people of the book.

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From 632 to 750, highly mobile troops mounted on
camels were successful in conquering lands in the
name of Allah.
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Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis

• Rise of the Umayyads
• Struggles for power end the elective system of
  choosing a caliph
• A wealthy family, the Umayyads, take power and
  move the capital to Damascus.

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Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis

• SunniShia Split
• Shia party of Alibelieve the caliph should
  be a descendant of Muhammad.
• Sunnifollowers of Muhammads examplesupported
  the Umayyads.
• Sufi followers pursue life of poverty and
  spirituality. They reject the Umayyads.
• In 750, a rebel groupthe Abbasidstopple the
  Umayyads.

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Control Extends Over Three-Continents

• Fall of the Umayyads
• Abbasids murder Umayyad family one prince
  escapes, Abd al-Rahman
• He flees to Spain and establishes the Umayyad
  caliphate in al-Andalus.
• al-Andalus is a Muslim state in southern Spain
  settled by North Africans.

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Control Extends Over Three-Continents

• Abbasids Consolidate Power
• In 762, Abbasids move Muslim capital from
  Damascus to Bagdad.
• Location provides access to trade goods, gold,
  and information.
• Abbasids develop a strong bureaucracy to manage
  empire.

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Control Extends Over Three-Continents

• Rival Groups Divide Muslim Lands
• Independent Muslim states spring up Shia
  Muslims form new caliphate
• Fatimid caliphateclaim descent from Fatima,
  daughter of Muhammad.
• The Fatimid caliphate begins in North Africa and
  spreads to the Red Sea, western Arabia, and Syria.

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Control Extends Over Three-Continents

• Muslim Trade Network
• Muslims trade by land and sea with Asia and
  Europe
• Muslim merchants use Arabic, single currency, and
  checks.
• Cordoba, in al-Andalus, is a dazzling center of
  Muslim cutlure.