Chapter 10

The Muslim world

600-1250

Section 1

The Muslim world, 600-1250

Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes

Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes

-The Arabian Peninsula is a crossroads of three continents-Africa, Europe, and Asia.

-The peninsula is about 1,200 miles from north to south and 1,300 miles from east to west.

-The remainder of the land is desert.

-The desert in the past was inhabited by nomadic Arab herders.

Deserts and town Life

-The Arab nomads, called Beudouins, were organized into tribes and groups called clans.

-These clans provide security and support for a life made difficult by the extreme conditions of the desert.

-His ideals of courage and loyalty to family, along with their warrior skills, became part of the part of Islamic way of life.

Crossroads of Trade and Ideas

-By the early 600s, trade routes route connected Arabia to the major ocean and land trade routes.

-Ran from the extreme south of the peninsula to the Byzantine and Sassanid(Persian) empires to the north.

-The merchants moved along the caravan routes.

-Transported spices and incense from Yemen and other products to the west.

Mecca

-Mecca is a west city in western Arabia.

-During certain holy months, caravans stopped in Mecca.

-They brought religious pilgrims who came who came to worship at an ancient shrine in the city called Ka'aba.

-The Arabs associated this house of worship with Abraham.

-Introduced the worship of many gods and spirits to the place.

The concept of belief in one God, called Allah in Arabic, was known on the Arabian Peninsula.

-Many Christians and Jews lived there and practiced monotheism.

-Around A.D. 570, Muhammad was born.

The Prophet Muhammad

-Born into the clan of a powerful Meccan family.

-At the age of six, he was raised by his grandfather and uncle.

-Received little schooling and began working in the caravan trade as a very young man.

-Became a trader and business manager for Khadijah.

The Prophet Muhammad

-Muhammad and Khadijah married.

-Theirs was both a good marriage and a good business partnership.

-Muhammad took great interest in religion and often spent time alone in prayer and meditation.

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