Where is the Islamic World today?
- The Islamic crescent and star is the international symbol for Islam
- Islam means "submission (to Allah)" in Arabic
- "Allah" is an Arabic word which means "the One True God"
- Muslims believe that the Quran is God's word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad (570=632 AD) through the angel Gabriel
- Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, although they do believe he was a prophet
- Islam is very family-oriented
- The primary means of transmitting the religion is throughout the family
- What is the difference between Muslim and Islam? Muslims are people that practice Islam
- The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of his/her race, nationality or ethnic background
- Any person who is ready to submit to the will of God is eligible to become a Muslim
- .6% of U.S. adults follow Islam
- There are two main sects of Islam: Sunni and Shiite
- One of their main differences is in their beliefs about who were the leaders following the death of Prophet Muhammad
- Sunni, from the Arabic word for "transition," accepted the succession of Muhammad's elected successors
- The majority of Muslims in the world today are Sunnis
- Shiite, from the Arabic word for "faction," believe that leaders must be descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali
- They rule Iran and also have a sizable presence in Iraq and Syria
5 Pillars of Islam
1.) Shahada (witness) is the Muslim profession of faith
- "I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
- Muslims say this when they wake up in the morning and just before they go to sleep at night
2.) Salat (daily prayer) is a prayer ritual performed 5 times a day by all Muslims over the age of 10
- Face the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
3.) Sawm (fasting) is abstaining each day during Ramadan
- Ramadan is the holiest day for Islam. It marks when Muhammad had the Quran revealed to him
- Sawm helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of God's gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived
- Not only is food forbidden between dawn and sunset, but also things like smoking, chewing gum, negative thoughts, and sexual activity
4.) Zakat (almsgiving) is giving money to the poor
- This is a compulsory gift of 2.5% of one's savings each year
- Giving in this way is intended to free Muslim from the love of money
- It reminds them that everything they have really belongs to God
5.) Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all physically/financially able Muslims should make at least once in their lifetime
- Mecca is the most holy place for Muslims
- They circle the Kaaba seven times, say prayers, drink from a holy spring, walk to Mount Arafat to pray, feast, cast stones at 3 pillars (to fight Satan's temptations), shave hair and run between some hills
Islamic Law
- Sharia Law outlines for Muslims and is based from the Quran
Food Laws
- Very similar laws to the Jewish kosher foods
- No alcohol, pork, blood, no pork fat products, scavenger animals
- Food must be prepared similar to the Jews
Why do Muslim Women Wear Burkas?
- The Koran calls for both men and women to 'cover and be modest'
- The Koran does not explicitly say you have to cover yourself in burkas (etc.)
Viking Women:
- Took care of the children
- Did household duties
_____________________________________________________
Germanic Kingdoms Unite Under Charlemagne:
Middle Ages-Medieval Times-Dark ages: What is the difference?
- Middle ages lasted roughly 500 AD - 1500 AD
- The term medieval simply means "of or relating to the Middle Ages"
- The Dark Ages was the period in Western Europe between 500 (the fall of Rome) and 1000 AD
The Dark Ages
- Why is this period known as The Dark Ages?
- Magyars and Vikings raided western European church monasteries and destroyed many of these centers of learning
- Due to this, European was thrown backwards in time where science culture and learning were not focused on as much as they had been with Ancient Rome and Greece
The invasions and fall of the Roman Empire caused the following problems in Europe:
1.) The Disruption of Trade
- Centralized Roman authority broke down and with it went the protection of trade
- Without Roman power and protection, roads and trade routes were no longer safe
2.) Downfall of Rome
- With the disruption of trade, cities were no longer the vital economic centers they once were
- With the breakdown of central Roman authority, cities were no longer needed as centers of government
- People moved to the countryside
- London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Milan, among others were still around
3.) Population Shifts
- With the cities no longer the important places they once were, people started migrating to the countryside
- Why? They could no longer grow their own food and felt safer there
4.) Decline of Learning
- The Germanic "barbarians" could not read or write
- The Germanic languages started becoming important, but they lacked a writing system
- Important info was all in Latin or Greek
- The science and philosophy of ancients Greece/Rome got ignored/lost as the Germanic people didn't have much use for it
- Church leaders were the only people that remained educated
5.) Loss of a Common Language
6.) Decline of Infrastructure
- All the great public works fell into disrepair: the aqueducts, the public baths, libraries, arenas, etc.
- The Germanic leaders didn't really destroy them, they just didn't see the need to maintain them or spend $ to do so
- It didn't help that these things were mainly located in cities, which people were leaving
Germanic Tribes
- Unlike the Roman Empire, the Germanic tribes focused on family ties and personal loyalty to unify society
- Every Germanic chief led a band of warriors who had pledged their loyalty to him
- In peacetime, these followers lived in their lord's hall and were provided food, weapons, and treasure by their chief
Comments