Chapter 6 The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam

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Chapter 6The First Global Civilization The Rise
and Spread of Islam

• 7th century CE Arab followers of Muhammad surge
  from the Arabian Peninsula
• They quickly became an empire incorporating
  elements of classical civilizations of Greece,
  Egypt and Persia
• Islamic merchants, mystics and warriors continued
  it expansion into Europe, Asia and Africa
• Although united in the belief of Muhammads
  message, the Islamic world was divided culturally
  and politically
• The disputes did not undermine the strength of
  the Muslim civilization until the 14th century

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Clan Identity, Clan Rivalries and the Cycle of
Vengeance

• Mobile kin-related clans were the basic social
  organization
• Only united into larger tribal units in times of
  crisis
• Survival depended on clan loyalty
• Leaders or shaykhs were elected by council
• Free warriors enforced their decisions
• Slave families served the leaders or the clan as
  a whole
• Clan cohesion was reinforced by interclan rivalry
  and conflict over water and pasturage
• The strife weakened Bedouin society against it
  rivals

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Desert and Town The pre-Islamic Arabian World

• Arabian Peninsula inhabited by Bedouin societies
• Some desert dwellers herded camels and goats
• Others practiced agriculture in oasis towns
• Important agricultural and commercial centers
  flourished in southern coastal regions
• The towns were extensions of Bedouin society,
  sharing its culture and ruled by its clans

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Town and long-distance trade

• Cities linked the Mediterranean to east Asia
• Mecca was the most important city (western
  Arabia) founded by the Umayyad
• Mecca was the site of the Kaba (religious
  shrine)
• Medina was a second important town that was a
  agricultural oasis and commercial center

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Marriage and the family in pre-Islamic Arabia

• Women had key economic roles in clan life
• Descent was traced through female line
• Men paid a bride-price to the wifes family
• Women did not wear veils and were not secluded
• Both sexes had multiple marriage partners
• Still, men, who carried the honored warrior
  tradition, remained superior
• Traditional practices of property control,
  inheritance and divorce favored men

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Poets and neglected Gods

• Arab material culture was not highly developed
• Main focus of creativity was in orally
  transmitted poetry
• Bedouin religion was a blend of animism and
  polytheism
• Some tribes recognized Allah but paid him little
  attention
• Instead of Allah they paid attention to spirits
  associated with nature

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The life of Muhammad and the Genesis of Islam

• Member of the Banu Hasim clan of the Quraysh,
  born in 570 CE
• He lived in Mecca and married a wealthy widow
  Khadijah
• Not happy with life focused on material gain
• In 610 CE he meditates and receives revelations
  from God through the angel Gabriel
• These revelations were later written down in the
  Quran which form the basis of Islam

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Persecution , Flight and Victory

• As Islam grows it is seen as a threat by Mecca's
  rulers
• The new faith endangered the gods of the Kaba
• With his life in danger Muhammad is invited to
  come to Medina to mediate its clans quarrels
• 622c CE Muhammad goes to Medina his skilled
  leadership brought new followers
• The Quraysh attack Medina but Muhammads force
  win
• A treaty in 628 allowed Muslims to visit the
  Kaba
• Muhammad returned to Mecca in 629 and converts
  most of its inhabitants

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Arab and Islam

• Islam offered opportunities for uniting Arabs
• Islam provided a distinct indigineous monotheism
• Islam supplanted clan divisions and ended
  feuding
• The Umma (the community of the fatihful,
  transcened old tribal boundries)
• Islam offered offered an ethical system capable
  of healing social rifts within arab society
• All believers