The Arabian Peninsula was a harsh desert environment, forcing tribes to cooperate for survival. Muhammad received revelations in the 6th century CE and spread the new religion of Islam, establishing the Five Pillars. After his death, the Rashidun Caliphs and Umayyad Dynasty expanded the Arab Empire across North Africa and Spain. The Abbasid Dynasty built the capital in Baghdad and oversaw a golden age. Successors like the Seljuk Turks and Mongols later assumed control of former Arab lands.

1. Rise of Islam &
Arab Empires
550 CE – 900 CE

2. Geography
The Arabian Peninsula was a desert land that
lacked water sources. The people who lived in
the peninsula were nomads, people who
moved constantly to find water and food for
their animals because of the hostile
surroundings.
As a result of the harsh surroundings, Arabs
organized themselves into tribes to help one
another. Each tribe was ruled by a sheikh, who
was chosen from one of the leading families by
a council of elders. The tribes were
independent, but still connected to one
another.

3. Background
The Arabs lived as farmers and sheepherders on the oases and rain-fed areas of
the Arabian Peninsula. After the camel was domesticated (around 100 BCE)
the Arabs were able to populate more of the desert. They developed and
expanded caravan trades during this time period. They moved goods from the
Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Ocean, where the Silk Road ended. Most
Arabs were polytheistic, although they traced their ancestors to Abraham and
his son Ishmael, who they believed built Makkah (Mecca), a house of worship
whose cornerstone was a sacred stone called the Black Stone.
The Arabs recognized a
supreme god named Allah, but
also believed in tribal gods.
The Arabian Peninsula took on
new importance when political
disorder in Mesopotamia and
Egypt disrupted trade and
travel. The Arabian trade route
through Makkah to Yemen was
a safer route, and the Arabians
prospered.

4. Muhammad
• Muhammad was born to a merchant family in Makkah in 570
CE. His parents died when he was 5 years old.
• When he grew up he became a caravan manager and
married Khadija, a rich widow.
• Muhammad was troubled by the gap between the greedy
and rich trading elites in the city and the honesty and
generosity of most Makkans.
• Like Buddha, he went into the mountains to meditate on the
good and bad in people.
• During his meditations, Muslims believe Muhammad received
revelations from God. According to Islamic teachings, the
angel Gabriel visited Muhammad
• Muhammad believed God had revealed himself to Moses
and Jesus, validating Jewish and Christian traditions
• Muhammad believed he was receiving Allah’s final revelations

5. Muhammad
• After receiving the revelations from the Angel, Muhammad
returned home and reflected on his experience.
• His wife became the first convert to Islam, after encouraging
Muhammad to follow Gabriel’s message.
• Muhammad set out to convince the people of Makkah of the
truth of the revelations.
• Makkans did not accept his teachings or his belief that he was
a prophet; after three years he had only 30 followers
• He left Makkah and moved north to Madina (Medina). The
journey of Muhammad and his followers to Medina is known
as the Hijrah. The journey happened in 622 CE, which became
year 1 of the official calendar of Islam
• Muhammad won support from followers in Medina and from
Arabs in the desert, especially the Bedouins.

6. Teachings of Muhammad
• Muslims saw NO separation between political and
religious authority.
• Submission to the will of god meant submission to the
prophet Muhammad
• Muhammad became both a religious and political
leader; he was a good military leader
• In 630 CE, Muhammad returned to Makkah with a force
of 10,000 men. The city surrendered and most of the
townspeople converted to Islam
• After a visit to Kabba (the house of
worship), Muhammad declared it a sacred shrine of
Islam
• Muhammad died two years after conquering Makkah
• All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to
Makkah at least once in their lifetimes. This pilgrimage is
called the Hajj.

7. Teachings of Muhammad
The Teachings of Muhammad: After receiving Allah’s
revelations, the Muslims developed
• Islam is monotheistic the Quran (Koran) which is the holy
• Allah is all-powerful book Islam.
• Islam emphasizes salvation and hope
for an afterlife (those who wish for life The Quran contains the ethical
after death must submit themselves to guidelines and laws by which the
the will of Allah followers of Allah are to live. Those
• Muhammad is considered a who practice the religion of Islam are
prophet, similar to Moses; a man like called Muslims.
other men
• They do not believe that Jesus was
divine (from god), instead they see him
as a prophet
• Islam stresses the need to obey the will
of Allah
• Muslims must practice acts of worship
known as the Five Pillars of Islam
• Islam is not just a religion, it is a way of
life

8. Five Pillars of Islam
After Muhammad’s
death, Muslim scholars
developed a law code known
as Shari’ah. It provides
believers with a set of laws to
regulate their daily lives.

9. Arab Empire
• Muhammad left no male successor, so his followers
chose Muhammad’s father-in-law, Abu Bakr, to be their
leader. He was named a caliph, or a successor to
Muhammad in 632 CE.
• Under Bakr’s leadership, the Islamic movement grew
rapidly.
• The Muslims believed defensive warfare known as jihad
could be used to expand Islam with the help of the
military.
• By 636 CE, the Muslim army defeated the Byzantine
army; four years later they took the Byzantine province
of Syria.
• By 642 CE, Egypt and most of Northern Africa was
controlled by the Arab empire.
• The Arabs defeated the entire Persian army by 650 CE.

10. Extent of Arab Empire &
the Spread of Islam

11. Arab Rule & the Umayyads
The Arab empire was ruled by caliphs, who were considered the successors to
Muhammad. After Abu Bakr’s death, there were no clear successors, and the
first two caliph’s were assassinated. In 656 CE, Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law
was chosen to be caliph, but he was assassinated in 661 CE.
The Arabs ruled their empire like the Romans. They allowed some territories to
have local rule, and were tolerant of other religions. If a territory or the people
in it chose not to convert, they were required to by loyal to Muslim rule and
pay taxes.
In 661, the general
Mu’awiyah became
caliph. He made the
caliph hereditary and
established the
Umayyad dynasty. He
moved the capital of
the empire to
Damascus, in Syria.

12. Muslim Expansion
The Umayyad’s armies conquered the Berbers of Northern Africa and then
crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and conquered southern Spain around 710 CE.
Cordoba became the Muslim center of Spain.
In 732, Arab forces were defeated at the Battle of Tours in France, which
stopped the Arab expansion into Europe.
The Muslim army also tried to defeat the Byzantine empire in
Constantinople, but their fleet was destroyed. This stopped Muslim
expansion into eastern Europe.

13. Split in Islam
Internal struggles
threatened the Arab
empire’s stability. Many
non-Arab Muslims were
upset over favoritism
shown to Arabs.
A revolt occurred in
present-day Iraq, led by
Hussein, who was
Muhammad’s grandson.
Hussein died fighting the
Umayyad soldiers.
The Shiite Muslims accept only descendants of
Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law) as the true rulers of This led to a split of Islam
Islam. The Sunni Muslims accepted Umayyads as into two groups, the Shiite
rulers; the Sunnis are a majority in the Muslim and the Sunni.
world, but Iraq and Iran are generally led by
Shiites.

14. Abbasid Dynasty
In 750, Abu al-Abbas, a descendant of Muhammad’s uncle, overthrew the
Umayyad dynasty and set up the Abbasid Dynasty.
In 762, the Abbasids built a new capital in Baghdad, on the Tigris River (modern
day Iraq).
Persian influence was strong in Abbasid empire. Judges, Merchants and
government officials were heroes instead of warriors.
All Muslims (regardless of ethnic background) were allowed to hold civil and
military positions, and were allowed to intermarry with conquered peoples.
Gold age of Caliphate came under Harun al-Rashid, who was known for charity
and his support of artists and writers. It was a period of growth and prosperity
for Arab empire.
The Abbasids started a council headed by a prime minister, or vizier, who advised
the caliph.
The dynasty declined when there were issues with succession to the caliphate and
financial corruption.

15. Successors to Arab Empire
The Seljuk Turks: strong army created by the
Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. They were from
central Asia, successful under Abbasid
caliphate.
1055 - Turks captured Baghdad, leader named
himself Sultan.
1071 – Sultan conquered Byzantine empire. The Mongols:
The Crusades: From China, Genghis Khan began
Byzantine emperor asked for help with Seljuk in Northern China.
Turks.
Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad
1187 Saladin invaded Jerusalem. brought to an end.
• Series of Holy Wars in which European
Christians tried to retake the Holy Land Kublai Kahn destroyed
of Jerusalem (1099-1261) everything, even Mosques
• Pope offered salvation to any Christian (Muslims place of worship)
fighting in Crusades
Mongols converted to Islam.