Islamic World

I.  How do we know?

A.  Problem of sources

1.  when written?

a) Quran

b) hadith

2.  "official" histories

B.  Different perspectives

1.  conversion

2.  gender relations 

II.  What do we know?

A.  Muhammad (570-632 C.E.)

1.  Angel Gabriel's revelations (610)

2.  teachings = social revolution

3.  hijra = from Mecca to Medina (622)

-- A.H. = After Hijra

4.  returned & converted Mecca (630)

B.  Five Pillars of Islam

1.  declaration of faith

2.  pray five times a day

3.  give alms to the poor

4.  fast during Ramadan

5.  pilgrimage to Mecca

C.  Other teachings

1.  jihad

2.  last judgment

III. Split in Islam

A. Shi'ite                    

1. supported Ali                  

2. orthodox                               

3. caliph interprets Quran    

4. minority (16%)

B. Sunni

1. accepted Umayyad

2. liberal

3. scholars interpret Quran

4. majority (83%)

IV. Spiritual and Cultural Flowering

A. Law (shari'a & ulama)

B.  Sufi Mystics

C. City & Architecture

1.  Baghdad & Cordoba

2.  mosques

3.  bazaar

D.  Relations

1.  with non-Muslims

a)  conquest & conversion

b)  dhimmi

2.  with women

a)  positive or negative?

b)  Ibn Battuta's observations