Lecture 10 - The Rise of Islam

Key Terms:

Muhammad - the prophet and founder, born outside of Mecca
Islam - religion founded by Muhammad, means "submission to God"
Ummah - people of the religion, "people of the scriptures"
Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are encouraged to make at least once
Ka'ba - sacred site
Shahada - fundamental creedal statement, no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger
Zakat - tax imposed on faithful "purification" to help the poor
Fasting during Ramadan - lunar month, no food or drink during daylight hours
The Jihad - pillar of Islam (struggle or exertion in God's service)
Ulema - judges
Diwan - order of precedence of the converted
Shi'a - Believe Ali was the true successor of Muhammad
Sunni - Followers of the tradition, strict Koran principles, egalitarian and moralistic
Caliph - theological and secular ruler of the faith, ruled until 1920s
Turks - converted to Islam and dominated Near East
Sultan - title taken by Turkish leaders
Saladin - leader who resisted crusaders, established hegemony over Syria and Egypt
Ottoman Empire - empire founded by Turks
Suleyman the Magnificent - greatest of the Ottoman sultans, 1520-1556
Lepanto - naval action led by Spanish in Eastern Mediterranean and lost by Ottoman Empire, marked beginning of its decline in late 16th century
Mughal Empire - Indian empire of the Ottomans, founded by descendants of Tamerlane
Aurangzeb - greatest of Mughal emperors 1658 - 1707, extended empire to its greatest limits, tried to stop drug trade, gambling, and prostitution. Fought against Hindu zealot rebels

Qur'an - recitings of angel Gabriel, social and religious maxims, strict monotheism
Muhammad - 570-632 born in Higaz outside Mecca
Slavery and polygamy allowed
Care of poor was fundamental
Salat - formal prayer 5 times a day, in the direction of Mecca
Immam - religious leaders
Dome of the Rock - built in 7th century - Muhammad departed from heaven from here
716-18 - siege of Constantinople
732 - Muslims defeated at Tours
1095 - Pope Urban preached the first crusade
1099 - Crusaders took Jerusalem

Mongols used terror to frighten their Islamic enemies
Caliph surrendered Baghdad to Mongols in 1258
Astrolabe - used to determine latitude
Tamerlane - 1336 - 1405, Turkic ruler
Mehmet II - cut off European reinforcements from Byzantium, overran city which became Istanbul
Ottomans used the talents of all their subjects, balanced one faction against another, accepted Western military technology
Savavids - Empire
Nader Shah - modernized the Persian army, introduced Sunni advisers, drove Ottomans back
Babur - ruled Mughal Empire in India
Akbar - Mughal Empire reached its peak 1556 - 1605, developed an efficient bureaucracy, coinage, taxes and governors. His son had a Jesuit tutor. Married a Hindu princess, revoked pilgrimage tax
Fatehpur - Akbar's city, abandoned due to lack of water.
Jahangir - annexed Bengal (Bangladesh), built Taj Mahal as tomb for his favorite wife