The Rise and Spread of Islam Rise of Islam
• After Muhammad’s monotheistic revelations, Islam (submission) spread through Medina and Mecca. • Islam provided answers to many of Arabia’s problems. • Islam was influenced by neighboring Jews, Zoroastians, and Christians but was uniquely Arab. Problems Islam addressed
• Poverty – with Zakat • Warfare – by unifying Arabia • Inequality – since all believers are equal • Literacy – with Arabic • Vulnerability to outside attack – by unifying • Lack of legal code – providing Sharia • Women’s rights – guaranteeing certain rights The Caliphate
• Once united under one ruler (the Caliph), the Arabs focused on conquest. • The death of Muhammad brought conflict between Muslims over leadership (sunni vs. shia) • The Umayyad clan took control of the Caliphate • During the Umayyad rule Islam expanded rapidly
• After the failure of the Umayyad Caliphate Abbas established the Abbasid Caliphate • Ultimately the Abbasids became weak & corrupt; the Caliphate fell apart • The spread of Islam continued, and the Abbasid period brought cultural, intellectual, and economic advances
Islam and Trade
• Arab traders and Sufis spread Islam along trade routes • Sharia became new business law • Arabs used the camel and dhow to expand and intensify trade • Establishment of caravanserai
The Rise of Ghana
• Trade routes between Saharan & Sub-Saharan: Gold for Salt • Ghana taxed trade • Two major cities: 1. Arab town of traders 2. center of government
Influence of Islam limited Mali
• Est. by SUNDIATA • Leaders and the elite converted to Islam, but: • Syncretic version: kept local religion too • Used Islam to establish royal cult • Spread Islamic architecture, law, learning • Agricultural economy but also taxed trade • Most famous Musa was Mansa: went on Hajj
Mansa Musa’s Hajj
• Took 8,000 people with him across the Sahara • So much gold = devalued gold in Egypt • On return brought architects and religious experts back • Built mosques along the route • Funded madrasas • Timbuktu as center of learning
DjinguereBer Mosque
Timbuktu Changes to Mali after MM’s Hajj
• New mosques built • Madrasas opened • Orthodox movement • Established safety within region for trade
Swahili Coast
• Spread of Islam with trade • City-states/kingdoms (not unified) • Arabs middlemen in trading • Mixed language – Swahili – emerged • Islamic architecture, customs, Arabic script, etc. spread • Most common people did not convert