November 5

[5thMarea]

THE RISE OF ISLAM
• Geography
o Very limited agriculture
o Very hot and dry deserts
• People of the Desert
o on the deserts, the Arab nomads, called Bedouins, were organized into clans
o these clans were created because the provided security and support for a life made difficult by the extreme condition of the desert
o Bedouins ideals: courage, loyalty to family, and warrior skills
• Moving
o by the time of 600 AD, many Arabs had chosen to settle by an oasis or in a market town, the desert life was just too tough and unpredictable
o larger towns near the western coast of Arabia became market towns for local, regional, and long-distance trade goods
• Special City
o One of these cities was Mecca
o Mecca is a holy city where Muslims pray towards
o Also it is very common for Muslims to go visit Mecca to pay homage
• Trade Life
o After these people had moved into the larger cities. The trading increased as well
o Many routes because of the bodies of water that surrounded the area
o Traded many things like spices, incense, perfumes, precious metals, ivory, silk
• Monotheistic or Polytheistic
o The Islamic religion is definitely monotheistic
o They believe in one God called Allah
• Muhammad
o The prophet Muhammad very influential figure
o He was raised by his grandfather and uncle
o He received little schooling and began working on as a trader
o At the age of 40, Muhammad became very interested in religion
• General Info
o Islam means “submission to the will of Allah”
o Muslim means “one who has submitted”