Islam Flashcards
Where did Islam originate?
Arabia
Who inhabited Arabia and where they like?
populated by Arabs, a Semitic people
Didn’t play a role in history before the introduction of Islam in the 500-600’s
Who was the key figure for Islam?
Muhammad 570 - 632 AD
Who was Muhammad?
born in Mecca
raised by uncle who was in caravan business which allowed Muhammad to travel greatly
met his very wealthy wife and retired at 25
free time allowed him to meditate about the meaning of life.
What happened to Muhammad in 610?
he has a religious experience in the desert
visited by an archangel, Gabriel, and told Muhammad that he was the chosen one to introduce a new religion
Goes back to Mecca to tell everyone what he’d heard and built a following
What did Muhammad’s success cause him in Mecca?
The people who ran Mecca did not like his following since Mecca was an important religious center (magical meteor) that generated wealth for the travelers and the Mecca “business” would die.
What did Mecca do to Muhammad and his followers?
kicked them out
What was Muhammad’s flee called?
the Hegira
represents the official beginning of their religion
What happens to the city that Muhammad flees to?
The population is converted to Islam
Muhammad becomes the religious, political, and military leader
city is renamed Median
What does Muhammad lead Medina through?
A conquest of most of Arabia including Mecca and shows the first time Arabia is unified
from 622-632
What do the Muslims elect and what is their role?
The Caliph
means the representative of Muhammad on Earth
a political, religious, and military leader of all Muslims
Who was the second elected Caliph?
Omar I
What was a result of Omar I’s election?
Islam explodes as Arabians conquer a huge empire and destroyed the New Persian Empire, M.E., and Byzantine
Why were the Arabs successful in their conquest?
Persians and Byzantines were weak from constant fighting
Arabs are unified
economic incentives for defeating wealthy empires
Arabs are tolerant of people’s religions, didn’t enforce conversion
Arabs have a concept of jihad (Holy War) and to live life as a better Musclim
What was the first civil war?
Muawiya v. Ali in 656 - 661 a leader rivalry of people who wanted to be caliph Muawiya wants a democratic process Ali wants hereditary seniority Muawiya is victorious.
What did Muawiya change his ideology to? What did he begin?
Established Hereditary Monarch, moving from democracy
Begins the Umayyad Dynasty from 661-750
What was the Umayyad Dynasty?
all people of the family runs as Caliph, the first ruling Dynasty
moves the capital to Damascus
democracy begins to disappear
leads to the first Islamic Division
Who were followers of Muawiya?
Sumi Muslims
make majority of Muslim population
Who were the followers of Ali?
Shi’ite Muslims
make minority of Muslim population
What did Muslim armies continue to do during the Umayyad Dynasty?
continue to expand and attempt to expand into Europe through the East
attempt to break into Constantinople
Why was Constantinople impregnable?
huge walls around city, several layers with moats
prepared for attack, knew it was coming
Built underground water sources, allowing survival
developed Greek Fire for warfare
Byzantines were Easter Orthodox Christians who used their faith in God to win
Record winters kill Muslims
What do Muslims do after failing to enter through the east?
They conquer all of North Africa
Jump across Med Sea into Spain and conquer Spain
invade the kingdom of the Franks in France
Who were the Franks?
Germans who destroyed Western Roman Empire
What occurs during the invasion of France?
the battle of Tours in 732
led by Charles Martel (the Hammer)
Franks defeat the Muslims and drive them back to Spain
Muslim expansion stops
balance is reached between both religions
What does the Mediterranean Sea act as?
A border between Christianity (North of Med) and Islam (South of Med)
What caused the rebellion against the Umayyad Dynasty?
After failing to expand, Muslims lose respect which leads to a rebellion
Who was the rebellion against the Umayyads led by?
Abu al-Abbus 750-754 and establishes the Abbasid Dynasty from 750-1258
What did the Muslims do during the Abbasid Dynasty?
they conquer into Asia, up to to the borders of China
What happened as Muslims reached China?
engaged in war in 751, Battle of Talas River, Tangs v. Abbasids
Abbasids are victorious and Chinese lose their western territories
In the end, what did the Muslims have?
have conquered the largest empire ever from Spain to China and began to create advanced civilizations with prestigious universities and begin the the Golden Age of Muslim history
