Remainder+of+the+Middle+East





** How did Islam spread? **




The Middle East was where Islam had originated. **Muhammad** had spread his preachings throughout Arabia during his time of being a prophet. In 610 C.E., he had claimed to acquire a message from **Allah** (sent an angel named **Gabriel** to see Muhammad his message). Muhammad was determined to spread his teachings to everyone as he traveled. Most of his followers were his wife, clans-people, servants and slaves. At first, he struggled to gain followers because many of the Arabs were polytheistic and did not want to convert simply because they would betray their own deities. As a first step to spread Islam, Muhammad conquered his enemies in **Mecca** (they tried to rid Muslims from Mecca). In Mecca, Muhammad had destroyed the deities shrines and conquered the people, it was the first step towards the destruction of the **tribal bands**. Muhammad kept spreading Islam throughout Arabia, throughout the process he didn't force people to convert (He believed in peace, he claimed violence was only needed as a form of self-defense). After the death of Muhammad, chaos began since Muhammad never chose who would succeed him. The **Umayyads** had took over and once again the Muslim conquest had begun. **Abu Bakr (632-634)** was the caliph to succeed Muhammad, he knew which tribes could become alliances and which were enemies. His generals proved to be able to fight against Meccans and the **Ridda Wars** which soon he fought wars in north Arabia, present day-Iraq, Syria, and eastern Egypt. The Arabs were able to defeat the Sasanian Empire of Persia and the Byzantine Empire proving to gain much more converters and followers as their strengths became known. The Umayyads eventually changed their city to Damascus in Syria where only Muslims were able to gain much advantage from: less taxation, being more valued, and gaining a share of money from expansion. In fact, the Umayyads didn't want conversion since they would then have to share their loot with more people.

After the fall of the Umayyads (Rulers became corrupted and eventually a revolution took place to dispose of them), the **Abbasid Empire (750)** had rose to power. The Abbasid Empire was able to acquire many converts because of the vast invention of the dhows which proved to be advantage for merchants and traders (Allowed Muslims to travel quickly to other countries). Through the usage of the dhows, Muslim traders and merchants were able to spread their beliefs and ideals to other countries. Merchants and traders also traveled with Jews and Christians as a way to tighten their relations. Dhows allowed merchants to bring a lot of wealth into the empire which allowed the construction of mosques and other commercial enterprises. The Abbasid Empire was able to spread Islam throughout much of the Middle East and eventually Southeast Asia.

** Growth of Trade within the Islamic world: **


The growth of trade within the Abbasid Empire was the main source of trade and interactions during the time. The use of the **dhows** allowed Muslims to trade and travel throughout much of the world such as north Africa, China, India, some parts of Europe, and within their own kingdom in Arabia, Egypt, and Afghanistan. Through the use of the dhows, Muslims brought back cultures from Greece, Rome, China, and other parts which helped them improve on mathematics, science, and create some of the best hospitals in the world. They also became very wealthy which allowed them to build even larger and more structured mosques and other estates. Some of the things that were traded were jewelry, glass, carpets, furniture, etc.

** Urbanization and Islam: **
As Islam spread into different countries in the Middle East, people converted since there was less taxation and it appealed to them at the time. Cities built mosques and worshiped Allah as their only god. Societies began following the 5 Pillars of Islam to worship only one god: Allah, pray everyday at least 5 times a day, fast everyday during the month of Ramadan, donate to charity, and journey to Mecca once in their lifetime. Muslims would begin to pray with one another and make sure that sins don't occur and generally do good; so one day they could eventually become one with Allah.

** Architecture throughout the Islamic world: **


Architecture had changed during the Abbasid era as during that era they had plenty of money to spend. The construction of mansions, government headquarters, political establishments, shops, and religious establishments as well which ranged from: shrines, mosques, rest houses (for travelers). It was evident that Muslims had evolved their religious establishments to maintain their ideal of praying and worshiping Allah; following the Qur'an.

** Examples of Syncretism and Islam: **
Because empires were spreading the religion rapidly into new areas; converts were often. The new religious people found the religion as a new opening for them to start a new life and remove all their previous sins. Most people would convert due to their old government forcing heavy taxes and adoring the higher social class citizens more. Eventually, this led to the lower class people to convert. Societies had started to build mosques to worship Allah. Other people who did not convert were not forced too, though they lived among a large Muslim community. They may not have been forced to convert, but they did have less advantage compared to those who did convert. Most citizens would look towards the Muslim religious ideals because they believe that they would acquire a better life.

** Reactions to Islam: **
Tribal bands did not accept Islam at first due to it only believing in one god and they found it hard to convert. There weren't many followers for it to become a large scale religion. Even the Meccans decided that they would reject the religion because they strive to protect their own deities and their own ideals and views. However, as Muhammad rose and defeated the Meccans he spread the religion even further. Eventually as the Umayyads and the Abbasid expanded their empire, people had started to convert. By converting they would be taxed lightly and gain many of the advantages the non-Muslims did not have. However, people weren't expected to convert because both empires wanted to maintain their own wealth and power; by having more followers they were expected to share it to everyone. More converters meant less wealth. This eventually led to the corruption and disposal of the Umayyad Empire. Intermarriages became often between Muslims and non-Muslims. Because the Islam had spread far, people began to accept the newly found religion and is now to this day the 3rd most practiced religion.


 * Additional Info: **
 * ** Umayyad Empire **
 * After the death of **Uthman** the third caliph
 * He was assassinated by warriors returning from Egypt
 * **Ali** another caliph at the time
 * Was blamed for assassinating him
 * The Umayyads then rejected Ali and swore revenge
 * War had broken out between the two forces
 * Ali was about to win in the **Battle of Siffin (657)**
 * He was won over by mediation
 * In 660, **Mu'awiya** became the new leader of the Umayyads
 * Caliph of Jerusalem
 * **Hasan (the son of Ali)** became the next caliph


 * The religion was broken into two groups
 * ** Sunnis **
 * Followed the Umayyads
 * ** Shi'a **
 * Followed Ali
 * Split remains to this day