The Rise and Spread of Islam

The Rise and Spread of Islam - Culutral Development and Interactions

Period: 550 to Jan 1, 1300

Thesis - Religion in the form of Islam attracted more people to continue converting than those who avoided converting for purposes of improved idelogoies, beliefs, and education. Despite this, the teachings and ideologies of Islam transformed over time.

Muhammad's birth

570

Muhammad was born around 570 C.E. Both Muhammad's father and mother died so he had to live with his fathers relatives. Muhammad's grandfather educated him to be a Merchant. Muhammad soon went on a journey where he met adherents of the Christian and Jewish faiths that had a great impact on his teachings. This event relates to the cultural theme because it impacted the Islam religion. Muhammad's birth is an event of change because there was a shift in the prominent religion of the region.

Muhammad's first revelation

Jan 1, 610

In 610 or earlier in a cave called Hira, located on the mountain called Jabal an-Nour, Muhammad recieved his first revelation in which his followers believe Allah transmitted to him through the angel Gabriel. The angel informs him that he is God's prophet. This event relates to the culutral theme because it deals with the beliefs and preachings of Islam. This is an event of change because the revelations changed the way Muhammad preached which changed how others saw the religion.

Muhammad's flight

Jan 1, 622

In 622, Muhammad and a small band of followers went from Mecca to Medina. Muhammad's successes ended up making him a threat and the Quraysh launched a series of attacks and Muhammad proved an able leader and a courageous fighter. This relates to the culutral theme because many people converted to the religion of Islam. This is an event of continuity because the era continued to see the full intergaration of new converts. Muhammad visited many areas and preached which attracted converts.

Arab conquests into the Byzantine and Sassanian Empire

Jan 1, 634

An Arab conquest into the Byzantine and Sassanian Empire occured during 634 C.E. This event is significant because by the time of the Arab explosion, the emperor was manipulated by a landed, aristocratic class that harshly exploited the farmers who made most of the population of the empire. This event relates to the cultural theme because it deals with muslims and the conquest was driven by the Islamic faith. This is an a event of change because it opened the way to further Muslim conquests.

The Split Between the Sunni and Shi'a

Jan 1, 660

During 660 C.E. a split between the Sunni and Shi'a occured. The significance of this event is that it split the religion of Islam into two sections which made it the most fundamental in the Islamic world. This event relates to the culutral theme because the Sunni's and Shi'a split the relgion of Islam into two different sections. This events represents continuity because the two groups of people continued to be individual groups throughout the era.

Shift to Damascus in Syria

Jan 1, 700

The shift to Damascus in Syria occured during 700 C.E. This event is significant because the political center of community shifted to Damascus. This event fits into the cultural theme because mainly Muslim Arabs were first class citizens of this empire. This event respresents a change because the Umayyads chose to move to this political center after the murder of the Uthman instead of living in Mecca or elsewhere. Also, the only reason they could be taxed would be for charity purposes.

Umayyad Caliphs' growing addiction

Jan 1, 740

Umayyad Caliphs' had a growing addiction that replaced the ways of Muhammad during 740 C.E. The Umayyad Caliphs' abandoned the simple lifestyle followed by Muhammad and the earliest caliphs. This event fits into the cultural theme because it relates to how the Ummayad Caliphs' left behind Muhammads ideologies and instead lived by luxury and retreated from war. This event represents change because the Caliphs' switched from Muhammad's ideologies to a life of luxury and no war.

Abbasids succeeded the Umayyads

Jan 1, 747

The Abbasids succeeded the Umayyads during 747 C.E. The significance of this event is that Islam became a universal religion that spread across much of north Africa and Euro-Asia. This event relates to the cultural theme because it relates to how the religion of Islam spread. This event represents continuity because throughout this era the religion of Islam continued to spread because it was the new faith and the religion that many people converted to.

First Flowering of Islamic Learning

Jan 1, 750

The first flowering of Islamic Learning began during 750 C.E. This event is significant because the Islamic contribution focused on the learning of sciences and mathematics and the learning of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and Middle East. This event relates to the culutral theme because the advancements were in the area of education. This event is a representation of change because this was only the first flowering of learning, there were more learnings as the era went on.

The Coming of Islam to South Asia

Jan 1, 1290

The coming of Islam occured during 1290 C.E. This event is significant because many Muslim invaders, traders, and migrants carried the Islamic faith and elements of Islamic civilization to much of the south Asian subcontinent. The cultural theme relates to this event because the religion of Islam was being introduced into new areas. This event is an example of change because the relgion of Islam spread into a new area which is South Asia and did not stay stationary.