The Muslim world, 600-1250
The Muslim world, 600-1250
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.
-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.
-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.