Notes

~The Islamic World Through 1450

-Pre-Islamic Bedouin Culture
|Well-established on the Arabian Peninsula, mostly nomadic tribal and polytheistic
|The Sheikh was the ruler and they practiced Polygamy
|They all worshipped one supreme deity: Allah, and each tribe had a sacred stone, but the most revered was the black stone in Mecca
|Land trade routes were the basis of the economy where they led trade caravans

-Mohammad
|Born in 570 CE. Married a rich widow and settled down in Mecca
|610 CE experiences "The night of power." When it's said the Arch Angel Gabriel came to him and had him recite in a cave, and thus Islam was born.
|Later his revelation were collected by those who heard his message in the Quran

-The Spread of Islam
|Spread slowly at first as his followers were called Muslims believing in him to be the last great prophet, the final one in the line of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
|He fled to Medina as the Quraysh tribe, his former tribe attacked him because of his views
|In 632 he returned and conquered Mecca and declared the black stone there, the Ka'aba, a shrine of Islam.

-Islam Spreads over the Arabian Peninsula
|Before Mohammad's death, he united the Arabian Peninsula
|Encouraged to spread Islam with the expansion of trade routes, and some military conquest
|In the area of rule, not forced to convert, but had to pay a tax for not being Muslim, called the Jizya.
|Egalitarian nature of the religion attacked many new converts

-Islam in Practice
|All muslims needed to follow the 5 pillars
|Concept of Jihad, or inner struggle to strive in the way of Allah to improve both oneself and society. Interpreted differently by some today.
|Islamic code of Law is called Shariah Law, outlines behavioral requirements for daily life. Like no drinking alcohol or eating pork, but Polygamy is permitted up to 4 wives.