Slide1 : Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Islam after Muhammad’s Death
Map: Spread of Islam
The Umayyad Dynasty
The Abbasid Dynasty
The End of Unity
Quick Facts: The End of Unity The Spread of Islam
Slide2 : Reading Focus
How did Islam evolve after Muhammad’s death?
What were key events of the Umayyad dynasty?
What changes occurred under the Abbasid dynasty?
What led to the end of the caliphate’s unity? Main Idea
After Muhammad’s death, Islam spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula, shaping a major empire within 100 years. While the empire eventually broke into smaller parts, Islam continued to spread. The Spread of Islam
Slide3 : The death of Muhammad in 632 presented a challenge for the Muslim community. Who would lead the group and keep it unified? The answer affected the faith’s spread and its future. Islam after Muhammad’s Death
Slide4 : More Expansion
After Iraq, Persia, Arab army faced wealthy Byzantine Empire to west
Byantines first lost Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem
639, Byzantine province of Egypt fell; 642, rest of Nile Valley under Arab rule Internal Conflict and Division
Deep conflict within Muslim leadership, began with choice of Abu Bakr, caliph
Some had supported Muhammad’s cousin, Ali
644, Ali lost again, to Uthman, supported by powerful Mecca clan Umayyad Empire
Only 10 years after Muhammad’s death, followers had created empire
Conquests continued under later caliphs
661, caliphate stretched from northern Africa in west to Persia in East More Expansion
Slide5 : Civil War
Slide6 : The Shia and Imams Shia believed God had specially blessed Ali’s descendants
Ali’s descendants, Muhammad’s true heirs
Shia called each of Ali’s successors imam
Imam means “leader”
For the shia, only imams can interpret the Qur’an.
Slide7 : Further Division
Husayn killed while holding infant son, battle became known as the martyrdom of Husayn; split between Sunni, Shia has remained bitter
Third group developed within Islam—the Sufis
Sufis seek mystical, personal connection with God, using range of practices including breath control and meditation in rituals Conflict
Conflict deepened between Sunni, Shia after deaths of Mu’awiya, Ali
Many thought Yazid, Mu’awiya’s son, successor, not a good Muslim
Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, led rebellion against Yazid
Husayn, forces defeated in battle at Karbala, Iraq
Slide9 : Find the Main Idea
What was the result of the succession conflict? Answer(s): Two different Muslim groups emerged—the Sunni and the Shia
Slide10 : Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim rule spread. Internal problems weakened the Umayyads, though, and led to their fall. The Umayyad Dynasty
Slide11 : Umayyads strengthened central government as caliphate grew in size
Arab Muslims became ruling class, with power, privilege unavailable to those they conquered
Creation of privileged class conflicted with strong Muslim ideal of equality
Wars over succession also upsetting to many faithful, unhappy with emphasis on political ambition Ruling the Empire
Slide12 : Sequence
What events brought about the end of the Umayyad dynasty? Answer(s): A family called the Abbasids took advantage of discontent with the Umayyads and established a new caliphate.
Slide13 : Baghdad
Abbasids relocated capital of caliphate; rulers lived in splendor
Chose Baghdad, on Tigris River, in present-day Iraq Government
Rulers cut off from people
Caliph hidden behind screen in throne room, could not be seen
Used Persian officials; vizier, deputy, oversaw affairs of state Persian Influence
Move to Baghdad beginning of end of Arab domination of Muslim world
Abbasids adopted Persian style of government Change in Islam
Nature of Islam changed
Abbasids invited all to join in, turned Islam into universal religion, attracted people of many cultures The Abbasid Dynasty
Slide14 : A Changing Culture
Slide15 : Contrast
How did the Abbasids differ from the Umayyads? Answer(s): The Abbasids focused more on prosperity and cultural advancement than on empire expansion.
Slide16 : As early as the 800s, Abbasid political power weakened. By the 900s, a number of small, independent states broke away from the caliphate. The End of Unity
Slide17 : Seljuk Turks
Many non-Arabs among peoples of caliphate, including Turks
1055, Turkish Seljuks rose to power, took control of Baghdad
Seljuks were Sunni Muslims, supported Abbasid caliph Mamluks and Mongols
1200s, Mamluks took power in Egypt, Syria
1258, Mongols destroyed Baghdad, killed Abbasid caliph; caliphate finished
Islam still a vital force, spread to India, Central and Southeast Asia War Against Byzantine Empire
Seljuks defended Abbasids against Fatimids, went to war against Byzantine Empire, defeated Byzantines at Battle of Manzikert
Seljuks would go on to create own empire Seljuk Turks and Others
Slide19 : Summarize
What forces ended the unity of the caliphate? Answer(s): Abbasids lost political power when small independent states broke away.