Unit 2 -Islam, Africa, and China
300 A.D. - 1100 A.D.
Chapter 6 - The world of Islam
I. The Rise of Islam
The Arabs-nomadic, semitic people organized into tribes in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia)
1. Sheikh - tribal rulers of Arab tribes
2. Early Arabs were polytheistic.
3. Ancestors traced to Abraham in the bible.
4. Silk Road ran through a city called Makkah (Mecca)
5. Bedouins - wandering nomads in the deserts of the Middle East
The Rise of Islam
1. Muhammad - THE prophet of Islam.
2. Islam - “peace through the submission to the will of Allah (God).
3. Quran (Koran) - final revelations of Allah, written down by Muhammad.
4. Muslims - Those who practice the religion of Islam.
5. Hajj - Muhammad’s triumphant return to Makkah in 630 A.D.
C. The Five Pillars of Islam (p.194)
II. The Arab Empire
Jihad - “struggle in the way of God”. Holy war used to expand territory
1. Used often against the Byzantine Empire
2. Berbers - conquered people from northern Africa
Islam Splits
1. Shiite - Accepts only descendants from Muhammad Ali (Muhammad’s son in law).
2. Sunni - Majority of Muslims today
Abbasids move the Muslim capital to Baghdad, Iraq.
Abbasid rule was a period of prosperity.
Vast wealth gave in to corruption
Fatimid dynasty move Muslim capital to Cairo, Egypt.
1. Hired the Seljuk Turks to fight for them.
G. Constantinople (710 A.D.) - Muslim invasion is turned back
Battle of Tours (732 A.D.) - French King Charles Martel (the Hammer) defeats the Muslims.
I. Conquered the Byzantine capital in 1071, leads to “the Crusades”
J. The Crusades
1. Christendom v. the Muslim World
2. Saladin I - Sultan of Muslims; led an invasion into Jerusalem
K. The Mongols
1. Genghis Khan - hated Islam; seized Persia and Iraq burning and destroying schools, libraries and mosques in his path.
2. Mongols soon adopted Islam .
Saladin &
Genghis Khan
III. Islamic Civilization
Trade flourished circa 750 A.D..
1. Orange trees in Spain
2. Precious stones, dates, ivory, and slaves
Bazaar - covered markets in every town
Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus were centers of trade, administration and culture.
D. Cordoba, Spain - furthest west Muslim city
E. Women’s rights were limited
1. Rarely could leave the house
2. Must be covered from head-to-toe when in public
IV. Islamic Culture
Preservation of Knowledge
1. Advancements in math, science, and literature
B. Architecture
1. Minaret - tall, pointed tower at the top of a building.
2. Thin columns and decorative styles
Chapter 7
African Civilization
I. Early Africa
A. Geography and Environment
1. North Africa
a. Coastal Mediterranean
2. Sub-Saharan
a. plateau-high, flat areas
b. Savannas-
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3. West Africa
a. Niger and Zaire (Congo) rivers.
B. Nubia and Kush
1. Nubia and Kush were modern day Sudan.
a. Egyptian influenced.
b. traded gold and elephant tusks
C. King Piankhi
1. Kushite king who conquered Egypt
2. traded leopard skins & ebony w/Europe
D. Axum
1. traded ivory w/Rome, Greece, and Europe
II. African Trade
A. East Africa
1. Traded w/Persia & China
2. Zanzibar - an island used to trade gold & ivory to China
B. Trade blended cultures
1. Bantu-a language that included Persian & Arabic words
C. The Bantu Kingdoms
1. Bantu people introduced many products from far reaches of the world
a. silk, porcelain from China
b. pottery from Persia
c. glass beads from India
d. carpets from Arabia
III. African Culture
Matrilineal - African society traces their family lineage through their ____________.
Fathers taught sons; mothers taught daughters
Slavery
Slavery was practiced by all civilizations since ancient times
Tribe would conquer weaker tribe and sell them into slavery
Diviners - people believed to have the power to talk to supernatural forces
World History Unit Notes