...THE EARLY ISLAMIC ERA Name Institution Introduction The start and spread of Islam is a broad body of knowledge that has been explained extensively by religious scholars and philosophers alike. Despite the presence of Christianity from the ancient times, Islam has had a tremendous growth particularly in the Middle East where up to now it is still the leading religion in the region. The early Islamic era is a fascinating study for historians who seek to understand the dynamics that gave birth to one of the biggest religion in the world; and with such a strong faith base. Islam is characterized by a unifying component that places all the Muslims across the nations in one category of identity. According to Khan (2011), it is very easy to recognize that an environment belongs to Islam than it is to identify the other religions. The early Islamic era, if it is anything to believe, was stronger than the crystallized Islam we have today. There is a concept that Islam spread rapidly because of the use of the sword in one hand and the Quran on the other hand. This is believed to have been done by the Jihadist among other substantial members of the Muslim faith. This notion forms the controversy that further catapults this study and makes it more interesting. This paper thus, focuses and explores the reasons that underpinned the rapid spread of Islam beyond Arabia. It also seeks to establish the understanding of the motive behind the early Islamic conquests. More importantly it sought...
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...Islam teachings: How Islam teachings revolutionized the world Name Professor Institution Course Date Introduction Islam is a one of the major religions in the world. Its basis is from the prophet Mohammed who travelled to hills, deserts, and wilderness. The prophet travelled to mediate and reflect. Through this, he came up with revelations as a new man. The revelations made his followers believe Allah had transformed him. At first the Islam, was an Arab religion. Many practices and beliefs were added unto it making it popular that aided its rapid spread. During the Arabic century, many things were at stake. Mohammed teaching on Islam revolutionized everything. He brought changes in the social security, family and women were given rights. He improved the society that was under Arabic influence. He established both religious and social life for many races. Mohammed made Islam to responsible for providing basic needs for the captives. The women in the ancient societies considered women as inferior compared to men. The Islam teachings revolutionized the idea. The recent world sees women as people capable of doing anything. They are viewed as strong like men. They engage in activities that were meant for men. Women are able to make decisions, provide for the family and even work as engineers and in factories. The laws of Koran brought revolution in social relations. The Koran taught people on the importance of production. This helped in quickening trade. The Koran taught people...
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...Soleman Abdi Idd Hist 275 Essay 1 : Islam was born in the Hijaz in the 7th century and expanded to the rest of the Middle East where its key institutions were established. Simultaneously, it went through a rapid wave of expansion and eventually reached the African continent though North Africa and was progressively embraced in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, we cannot say there was such a thing as a unique process of expansion of Islam because an African identity was inexistent. Indeed, the continent and especially our area of focus, consisting of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, was composed of different regions defined by their ethnicity and their ancestry. Furthermore, the physical separation created by the Sahara desert also played a major role into accentuating the disparities. We will explore here, how the introduction of Islam in both regions differed significantly and how in the secondary phase of “rooting” of the faith, this key difference in the first contacts the religion had in these two regions led to the establishment of two distinct Islams. Finally, we will demonstrate that when we look beyond the complexity of both processes, they ultimately share many similarities. The main difference in the process of arrival of Islam in North Africa and Sub-Saharan African is displayed by the rapidity of expansion. Whereas by 720, North Africa was controlled by the Muslims, the adoption of Islam below the Sahara appeared to be more slowly paced and...
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...Islam Change over time ! The spread of Islam throughout the world was among the most significant worldwide movements in history. Beginning as the faith of a small community of believers in Arabia in the seventh century, Islam rapidly became one of the major world religions. The core of this faith is the belief that Muhammad (570-632), a respected businessman in Mecca, a commercial and religious center in western Arabia, received revelations from God that have been preserved in the Qur'an. The core of Islam remains the same today after 1396 years. Islam still translates to “submission” and Muslims still live by the Qur’an and follow the 5 Pillars of Islam. However, throughout the Pre-Islamic, Umayyad, and Abbasid eras, the political structure that governed the societies that followed Islam differed over the years with some minor continuity. The pre-Islamic era lasted from 400 B.C until the revelation of the Prophet Mohammad in 610 C.E. The lack of Islam evidently created a lack of true unity. The basic social unit of the Bedouin was the kin-related clan. The struggle to survive in the unrelenting Arabian environment led to strong dependence in one’s family and clan. Clans could never rest to maintain everyday lives with their necessities met. Clans were also linked to larger tribal groupings, however these tribal units seldom met together. Additionally, clans would often feud over water rights, animals, or even perceived sights to clan members’ honor, all of which often led...
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...The Spread of Islam The true incubator of Islam was the coalition of civilizations in the Near East starting in the early 7th century. In less than two hundred years, Islam went from not existing to being the the political and religious organizing principle of one of the largest empires in the world. To understand the birth of Islam, one must first understand the environment that empowered its rise to become a global religion. Pre Islamic Arabia was divided amongst the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire (Housed in modern day Turkey), and the Persian or Sasanian empire. Both were extremely powerful empires with strong military and political strength, each defending their own religious views; the Byzantine protecting the Orthodox Christianity, and the Sasanians protecting the Zoroastrian orthodoxy. These two empires were in a seemingly endless battle for hundreds of years due to aberrations of their innate tribal ethos. It is important to note that at this time, there was a strong sense of tribalism, and...
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...There are a few reasons Islam spread across the Arabic/North African World. First, Document 7 states, “The passion to go to heaven in the next life may have been operative with some, but the desire for the comforts and luxuries of the civilized regions of the Fertile Crescent was just as strong in the case of many”(Document 7). This passage relates that Islam spread not only for belief in going to heaven, but riches and money were a great factor to conversion and expansion. The Abbasid Dynasty was a trade hub of the world, bringing a great deal of people concerned with money rather than the faith itself. Second, Document 1 states, “ Believe or else pay tribute, obey the Lord and His apostle, and he will defend you”(Document 1). This texts...
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... 12/15/2015 In this essay I will attempt to answer the following question: What role did Islam play in the Ottoman and Mughal empires and what was the situation for religious minority groups? Overall, especially compared to Europe, religious toleration was very high in the two empires. While religious toleration varied along the years and the importance of Islam and its role in the two empires changed, it is safe to say that both of the empires went through a period of time where religion played a vital role in the people’s lives and tolerance of minority groups was at a high point. I will look more in-depth at the overall role that religion played in the empires as well as discuss both the positives and the negatives of the situation for minority groups. Islam played a big role in the Ottoman Empire. As a religion it was a focal point around which the rulers based their decisions as faith was a “major pillar of dynasty and empire”(Stearns, Peter N. World Civilizations. Fifth Edition. 2007. Pg. 580) . Islam played a role of civilization and it is also what encouraged emperors to keep expanding the empire. Finally it promoted principles of political succession- in other words it stimulated competition. Overall the religion served to bind people together and achieve a stable regime. Similarly in the Safavid Empire there was a lot of emphasis put on Shi’ism, and citizens were encouraged to convert to this religion. Religious festivals became...
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...Khalid ibn AI-Waleed “The Sword of Allah” (d. 21 A.H.) It is reported that Prophet Muhammad said, ‘The better ones of you in the Days of Ignoranceare the better ones of you in Islam when they understand (the religion).” These wise words of Prophet Muhammad were best proved in the case of our hero today, Khalid ibn AI-Waleed. For, it was Khalid ibn AI-Waleed who managed to cause the defeat of the Muslim army atUhud,??before his conversion t o Islam. After his acceptance of the Faith , Khalid ibn AI-Waleed was the champion of many a decisive battle in favour of Islam, such as the battle against Musaylimah the Imposter and the battle of Yarmauk against the Roman Empire’s army in Syria. In fact , the reader of history will find that Khalid ibn Al-Waleed was a military strategist and commander with very few equals in human history, a man who turned many a defeat or near defeat into glorious victories, as well shall see in the few examples we will be quoting. The first military encounter in which our hero showed his genius was the Battle of Uhud, which he (while a polytheist) caused to be the worst for Muslims in the early days of Islam. This battle was initiated by the Makkan polytheists in revenge for their defeat at the Battle of Badr, where more than thousand of them were defeated by only a little over three hundred Muslims fighters. In the Battle of Uhad, Prophet Muhammad placed a group of archers on a nearby hill to give protection to the back of the Muslim army with specific...
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...Mongolian Empire: Globalization and the Silk Road The Mongolian Empire was one of the largest empires in history, engulfing a large majority of the Asian and Middle Eastern regions. The Empire was most prominent during the 13th and 14th century being ruled by Genghis Khan and his successors. During this time, the Mongolian Empire acquired large amounts of territory and was able to keep a sustainable rule under what is known as "Pax Mongolica". Pax Mongolica was the era of Mongolian peace where trade routes were established "making it possible for travelers and traders to cross back and forth within Eurasia" (Safavi-Abbasi, 2007). The Mongolian Empire was the start of a new era of transportation and trade as they provided, through migration, many new ideas and cultures, creating an early notion of globalization. Through the innovations set in place by the Mongolian Empire, greater emporia's were able to follow suit, expanding on the new ideas brought into action by the Mongols. "The presence of the Mongol states was essential for shaping the emporia’s local strategies of survival and development, in their role as components of a commercial as well as political mechanism that connected the Mediterranean markets to the great landmass of Eurasia beyond the Black Sea" (Di Cosmo, 2010). What made the Mongolian Empire so special was the opening of what is known as "Silk Road". The Silk Road was a trade network that connected the eastern territories to the Western territories...
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...1 HISTORY OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION PART II: 1258 C.E. TO PRESENT SPRING 2012 (21:510:288) M.W. 4:00-5:20 (MW6) CONKLIN HALL 446 Dr. Nükhet Varlık varlik@andromeda.rutgers.edu Office Hours: M. W. 5:20-5:50 pm and by appointment Office: Conklin Hall, 310 TEXTBOOK: o Arthur Goldschmidt Jr., A concise history of the Middle East, Westview Press, 2002. o Marvin E Gettleman & Stuart Schaar, The Middle East and Islamic world reader, New York, 2003. o Additional primary source readings will be posted on Blackboard. o Also see: Internet Islamic History Sourcebook (compiled by Paul Halsall) COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a survey of the history of the Islamic civilization. In this course, we will study social, economic, and cultural aspects of the history of the Middle and Near East region, from the dramatic arrival of Mongol armies in the mid-thirteenth century up to the present era. The treatment of the subject will be roughly chronological, though social and economic life, culture, and arts will be discussed thoroughly throughout the course. In addition to lectures, the course will heavily draw upon discussion sessions, which will give students a hands-on approach to history. In these sessions, we will discuss in detail various historical problems presented in the text, lectures, and audio-visual materials. 1 2 COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: - name and identify individuals, events, themes, and issues of major...
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...Islam is the world's fastest growing faith. It all began in 610 C.E. when the Prophet Muhammad received revelations of the Quran in Mecca. Islam's reputation of promoting a strict and controlling government, female oppression, civil war, and terrorism is not completely correct. Islam is a rich and complex religion that is often misunderstood in the modern world. There have been many obstacles that have been faced. Islam wouldn't exist today with its leaders, the Crusades, and their empires. The most important leader was, of course, Muhammad. He basically set up Islam and preached and converted many to this religion. He insisted that it was wrong to build a private fortune but good to share wealth and create a society where the weak and vulnerable were treated with respect (51). Umar, Muhammad's second successor and father-in-law, was very important to Islam's history. He was originally opposed to Islam but converted right after he heard some verses from the Quran. Islam made its largest and fastest expansion under Umar's reign; the Muslim forces conquered Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, and armies of Persia. This period is often thought as the Golden Age of Islam. It was when Muslims were at the top of their regions social order and when Islam was the most pure for it had not yet been corrupted by power or privilege. There have been many other leaders that followed, and all of them have contributed to Islamic history. The Crusades were a series of wars that were started...
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...During the 15th century there were three Islamic Empires who used their tactful skills to build and spread their territories all throughout the Middle East and India. These empires which included the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, and the Safavid Empire were both similar and different in their own ways, but the two empires that are going to be compared and contrasted in this essay are the Ottoman and Safavid Empires. More specifically their religious systems will be compared and contrasted throughout the essay. Within the Ottoman and Safavid Empires it would seem as if the two had nothing in common regarding religion, but upon further research it seems as if they had more in comparison than one would think. Yes, they were practiced different types of Islam, and one empire was more tolerant to other religions, but religion was intertwined into each of their government systems and those who...
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...Causes of the First Crusade The Crusades were a violent military campaign between the Latin Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic empire. According to Don Closson an author with probe ministers, there were 7 crusades in total and they lasted about 200 years. John France the author of The Crusades And The Expansion Of Catholic Christendom states that , “After the First Crusade achieved its goal, the invading Christians set up several Latin Christian states. Because of this Muslims in the region vowed to wage holy war (jihad) to regain control over the region (Crusades). But what caused this dispute, what caused the crusades to even begin? Well before the crusades started the dispute between Christians and Muslims could be seen in many different...
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...Islam didn’t spread through excessive force. It all started when a man named Muhammed recieved a message from Angel Gabriel. Angel Gabriel said that Muhammed was the last, and greatest prophet. How did Islam diffuse so rapidly? Well, Islam spread quickly for three basic reasons: religion, trade, and conquest. The first reason that Islam spread quickly was through religion. Documents B and C both support this statement. Document B is translated verses of the Qur’an. These verses gave people a reason to practice; “Those who submit to God and accept the true Faith; …. God will bestow forgiveness and rich recompense.” (33:35) This verse states that God will reward those who practice, whether that be in the afterlife or through justice like in...
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...Unit 7 The Spread of Religions Section 1 Unit Materials Questions To Consider Question 1. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the world, and why are they practiced so far from their origins? Question 2. How did these three major world religions change and adapt to diverse cultural circumstances? Question 3. Why did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam emerge when and where they did? Question 4. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam interact with, provide justification for, and conflict with various states and empires in Afro-Eurasia? The Big Picture How is this topic related to Increasing Integration? As Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the borders and frontiers of Afro-Eurasia, they integrated diverse peoples by means of a common religion. How is this topic related to Proliferating Difference? The spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam introduced new beliefs and practices to a wide variety of peoples. These beliefs and practices were often quite different from indigenous religions. In addition, indigenous beliefs and practices often changed the new religions as they adapted to local conditions. These changes frequently resulted in the development of different sects within the new religions. Unit Purpose ß Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across borders and frontiers as a result of missionaries, pilgrims, and trade. Each of these three major world religions changed over time, and all served as elements of change in the societies...
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