Islam and Islamic Civilization

Spread, Change, and Continuities

The size & strength of the Islamic Empire fostered trade!

•There were few borders

and relative stability!

•Trade was safer and

taxed less.

The Islamic empire took control of . . .

• Mediterranean trade

• part of the Silk Roads and Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

• Muslim merchants gained increasing control of Indian Ocean trade

• Banks were set up in cities throughout the Islamic empire.

• Textiles and paper were an important part of regional trade and manufacturing

• Horses, medicine, and sugar were important exports

Spread & CHANGE• As Islam and Arabic culture

spread into other regions it influenced cultures.

• New cultures, like Persian, also influenced elements of Islam and Arabic culture.

• Islamic learning centers (like the House of Wisdom) collected learning from around the empire.

Continuities in Islam

• Monotheism & Muhammad

• Quran – the revelation of God in Arabic

• Caliph – political / religious leader of Islam

• Umma – idea of one community

Sunni and Shia SplitAfter Muhammad’s death,

• Sunnis wanted the leader to be chosen.

• Shia’s wanted the leader to be a blood relative of Muhammed.

• 5 Pillars of Islam –

Statement of Faith

Prayer

Fasting (during Ramadan)

Giving to those in need (Zakat / Alms / Tithe)

Pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj)

Jihad – holy war or internal struggle

Continuities in Islam• Arabic Language

• Hadiths – Texts on the life and teachings of Muhammed

• Sharia – Written Law code (interpretations of Quran and Hadith and ?)

• Ulama – Islamic jurists (scholars) who interpret Sharia law