1. In what ways did the early history of Islam reflect its Arabian origins?
It reflected its arabian origins because Arabia was on important east-west trade routes, it was on the edge of the byzantine and sassanid empires, judaism christianity and zoroastrianism had spread among arabs (most settled arabs achgowledged supreme god), islam emerged from marginal region (caused it to be private small religion in origin)
2. How does the core message of Islam compare with those of Judaism and Christianity?
more rule based rather than philosophically based. prayer was required five times a day and giving to the needy was mandated. Muhammed is the prophet of islam, while jesus is the prophet of christianity, muslims also believe that quran is the holy book and they follow sharia law. they have more strict rules to follow than christianity and their rules are political as well.
3. In what ways was the rise of Islam revolutionary, both in theory and in practice?
it was revolutionary because of the speed and size of conquest. completely religion/culture based expansion. started small in medina and first rapidly spread through arabia. it was different in rise than christianity because muhammad was religious political and military leader. there was no difference between religious and civil law (only sharia). islam did not grow as persecuted religion. they used expansion to capture trade routes and agricultural regions and to hold umma together.
4. Why were Arabs able to construct such a huge empire so quickly?
because t was not very destructive, local elites and beaurocracies were incorporated into empire. its kinship to already populary religions like judaism and christianity made it attractive. another reason was because byzantine and persia had been weakened by internal fighting and made it easier to take control.
arabic conquests were continuation of long-term raiding pattern and new level of political organization allowed greater mobilization.
5. What accounts for widespread conversion to Islam?
for many people it was a social conversion not a spiritual change. its kinship to other well known religions made it attractive and islam was associated to powerful islamic state from beginning. also the state gave incentives for conversion including not having to pay Jizya.
6. What's the difference between Sunni and Shia Islam?
sunni- thought caliphs were rightful political and military leaders, chosen by islamic community. religious authority comes from community, especially scholars
shia- leaders should be blood relatives of muhammad, descended from Ali and son Husayn. imams have religious authority. opponents of privilege.
7. In what ways were Sufi Muslims critical of mainstream Islam?
sufi were critical of the sharia and of reading the Quran. spiritual union was often expressed in terms of drunkenness or sexual experience.
sufis were mystics and sought direct experience from the divine. often there was tension between sufism and ulama
sufism- mystical dimension of islam
8. How did the rise of Islam change the lives of women?
in the Quran men and women are called equals, but socially (especially in marriage) women are subordinate. the Quran gave women limited rights of inheritance, required woman's consent to marriage, banned female infanticide, gave women control of own property, recognized women's right to sexual satisfaction.
in early islam some woman played public roles, prayed in mosque, weren't veiled. growing restrictions under abbasids, veiling and seclusion became norm especially in upper class. hadiths (traditions about muhammad) developed more negative images of women and blamed women for fall of humankind.
islam (especially sufis) gave new religious outlets for women.
9. What similarities and differences can you identify in the spread of Islam to India, Anatolia, West Africa, and Spain?
india- turkic speaking invaders brought islam to india, at first destruction of hindu and buddhist temples occured, but then buddhists, low-caste hindus, and newly agrarian people found islam attractive. subjects of muslim rulers converted for tax reasons. 25% of india islam at height. issues--- monotheism vs polytheism, equality of believers vs caste, sexual modesty vs open eriticism. many hindus served muslim rulers sikhism was religion that belnded hindu and islam (guru nanak founded) decentralized politics and religion could absorb shock of invasion better than anatolia.
anatolia- turks invaded same time as india. also major destruction in early stages. and sufi missionaries were important in both places. 90% islam by 1500. smaller pop than india, deeper destruction of byzantine society, more turkish speakers. active discrimination against christians in anatolia. turkish rulers of anatolia welcomed converts, fewer social barriers to conversion. sufis placed christian institutions in anatolia. turks retained much of culture after conversion, women had freer life
west africa- islam came with traders, islam spread mostly in urban centers and provided links to muslim trading partners and religious legitimacy to state. arabic became language of religion, education, administration, and trade. not much arab immigration. rulers made little effort to impose islam or rule by islamic law.
spain- arab and berber forces conquered most of spain (al-aldalus). islam did ont overwhelm christianity, much interaction between muslims, christians and jews. religious tolerance broke down after 10th century and warring between christian states of northern spain began. many muslims were forced out of christian-conquered regions or kept from practicing their faith. christian reconquest in 1492
10. Why was Anatolia so much more thoroughly Islamized than India?
because of discrimination against christians and turkish rulers welcomed converts so there were fewer social barriers to conversion. there was also a deeper destruction of byzantine society in anatolia.
11 What makes it possible to speak of the Islamic world as a distinct and coherent civilization?
because it was held together by central islamic practices and beliefs
