Bedouins - Alexandra Bauer

• Refers to the nomadic cultures that had developed across the Arabian peninsula over the centuries prior to the rise of Islam.
• The Bedouin tribes were based on camel and goat herding.
• Their civilizations were divided into a series of different tribes which were all quite similar.
• The tribes would travel across the Arabian peninsula in search for the most plentiful areas.
• Since agriculture was limited in the sandy environment of the Arabian peninsula the Bedouins were constantly on the move to find the best living conditions, setting up communities of tents.  

Stearns , Peter. World Civilizations The Global Experience. Fourth Edition. New York: Pearson Education Inc, 2006.

This is a picture of a Bedouin herder leading a camel across the arid plains of the Arabian peninsula. The nomadic nature of the Bedouins is highlighted in this picture.

Mecca and Medina - Isaiah 

Umayyads - Jennifer 

• Umayyad house was one of the first major clans of the Quraysh
• Caliph Dynasty from 661-750CE
• Started when Caliph Ali was murdered in 661
• Built Dome of Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
• Over thrown in 750CE by Abbasids
• Some moved to Muslim Spain and Umayyads took control there

Kjeilen, Tore. "Umayyad." Lexicorient. 13 Oct 2008. 13 Oct 2008 <http://lexicorient.com/e.o/umayyad.htm>.

"Umayyads." Princeton. 12 Sep 1996. 13 Oct 2008 <http://www.princeton.edu/~batke/itl/denise/umayyads.htm>.

Muhammad - Colin 

Muhammad was born in 570 CE in Mecca and was a member of the Quraysh tribe. He was the prophet of Islam and is therefore very important to Islam. It all began when he was on a trading journey when he was 40 he ran into the angel named Gabriel who gave him special revelations and when Muhammad returned he spread the teaching and came up with a code of behavior which we know now as Islam.

Bard, Mitchell. "Muhammad." The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict. 2005. Alpha Books. 9 Oct 2008 <http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Muhammad.html>.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs - Alison Chang

(Al-Khulafa-ur Rashidun in Arabic)

- Caliphs who truly followed in the Prophet's foot steps.

- The first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman and Ali.

- They lived simple and righteous lives and strove hard for the religion of God. Their justice was impartial, their treatment of others was kind and merciful, and they were one with the people - the first among equals.

- After these four, the later Caliphs assumed the manners of kings and emperors and the true spirit of equality of ruler and ruled diminished to a considerable extent in the political life of Muslims.

inside the Aya Sofia: the green plates with Arabic calligraphy represent the effort to convert the Byzantine church into a mosque; they portray the name of God and the Prophet, and the names of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs

Abu Bakr vs Ali - Tyler 

·         Abu Bakr and Ali were both Muslims who had strong connections to Muhammad, (the chief prophet of Allah in Islam.)

·         Both of these Islamic followers believed that they were the rightful successor to Muhammad.

·         Ali claimed that he was the rightful successor because he was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad and had been among the first to accept Islam. It is also claimed that Muhammad appointed Ali as his successor before dying.

·         Abu Bakr was also in the clan of Muhammad and was one of the chief followers of Muhammad.

·         One argument for the appointment of Abu Bakr to become Caliph, (the Muslim leader), was that Abu Bakr was told by Muhammad shortly before his death to go and perform the prayers Muhammad usually performed at the temple.

·         A dispute over who would be Caliph ensued and Abu Bakr delivered a speech about unity among Muslims and then declared that Omar, (another follower belonging to the clan of Muhammad), should be caliph.

·         Umar responded that Abu Bakr deserved to become caliph and the majority of the people agreed. The supporters of Ali did not. Abu Bakr ultimately became caliph.

·         Due to disagreements over who was the rightful successor to Muhammad, two groups formed: the Sunni, (supporters of Abu Bakr), and the Shi’a , (supporters of Ali.)

·         The Sunni and Shia groups continue to fight to this very day.

"Succession to Muhammad." 7 October 2008. Wikipedia. 11 Oct 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_to_Muhammad>.

Ashura." everydaysaholiday. 19 January 2008. Wordpress. 11 Oct 2008 <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Caliph_Abu_Bakr%27s_empire_at_its_peak2-mohammad_adil_rais.PNG&imgrefurl=http://everydaysaholiday.wordpress.com

The Muslim Empire underneath Caliph Abu Bakr.

Sunnis/Shiites - Michael 

The Sunnis and the Shiites are the 2 major denominations of Islam with the Sunnis being 90% and Shiites 10% of all Muslims.  The Shiites hold a majority in Iran and Iraq.  The original schism occurred over who would succeed Muhammad as caliph of Islam.  The feud continues today due to the hatred developed towards each other over the centuries of fighting.  The Sunnis backed the Umayyads as the true caliphs.   The Shiites only claim descendents of Ali as true caliphs.

"Sunni-Shia Relations." Wikipedia. 2008. Wikimedia. 7 Oct 2008 

     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni-Shia_relations>.  

Sturns, Peter. "The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam." 

     World Civilizations: The Global Experience. New York: Pearson Education,

     2006.

The Sunnis and the Shiites continue to feud today because of ancestral hostilities (just like the families of Romeo and Juliet).

Quran- Estefania Delgado

- is the central religious text of Islam.
-Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revelation of God.
-The Qur'an expresses that it is the book of guidance.
-Islam holds that the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.
-The Qur’an was written down by Muhammad's companions while he was alive, although the prime method of transmission was oral.
-It was compiled in the time of Abu Bakr, the first caliph, and was standardized in the time of Uthman, the third caliph.
-The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a sura.
-Chapters are classed as Meccan or Medinan, depending on where the verses were revealed.
-Therefore all Muslims, Sunni or Shia, use the same Qur’an.

Bibliography
"The Qur'an." Wsu. 9 Oct. 2008 <http://http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/islam/quran.htm>.

"What is the Qur'an?" Wisegeek. 9 Oct. 2008 <http://http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-quran.htm>.

The Qur’an exists exactly as it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It has not been changed.It was revealed in Arabic

Five Pillars - Shelly

   The Five Pillars of Islam are religious principles that have to be accepted and followed by all believers of the Islamic faith. There are five different principles.  The first principle is there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.  The second law is the establishment of the daily prayers that says followers has to pray five times a day facing the holy city of Mecca. The third principle says that during the month of Ramadan all Muslims have to fast from dawn until sundown. The muslims aslo have a finanical obligation called Zakat which is a tithe for Charity, which is the fourth principle.  The fifth principle says that all Muslims have to take a Hajj or holy pilgrimage to Mecca, to worship Allah.  The Five Pillars of Islam provided the basis for an underlying religious unity.

"Five Pillars of islam." Believe. 07 Oct. 2009 <http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txh/pillars.htm>.

http://www.arabia.it/english/islam/mecca2.jpg

This is a picture of the Ka'ba in the holy city of Mecca.  This is where millions of muslims take the holy trip each year.

Sufis - Sara Marshall 

-->Sufis were mystics who recognized a reality above and beyond humane world and human understanding.

-->The word came from the prefix 'sufi', which means "purity" or "wisdom."

-->Sufis served the Sufism system.

-->Sufism was an intensely psycho-spiritual belief system that preached harmony and humanitarian values.

-->Sufism denotes Islamic mysticism.

-->Sufism was rooted in Islam.

-->It developed in the late 7th and 8th centuries.

-->Sufism developed because the worldliness and loose morals in ruling Umayyad circles evoked a strong reaction among certain people.

-->Sufism offered a new emphasis on the love of God. It transferred asceticism to mysticism.

-->It was criticized by people who were scared of Sufis' concern for personal knowledge of God.

-->Sufism exercised it's influence through things such as mystical poetry.

Bijlefeld, Willem. "Sufism." mb-soft.com. 6 September 2008. 9 October 2008 http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txo/sufism.htm.

The top of a Sufism palace/temple.

Abbasids - Nat 

Mamluks and Seljuk Turks - Laura 

Crusades (include Saladin) - Islamic POV - Cory Hume

The Crusades were a series of military conflicts that were waged on the sole fact of controlling the “holy land.” They were religiously based and any fighter that fought on behalf of the Western Christians was promised complete relinquish from their sins. Many groups of people were involved, involving Slavs, Jews, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, Waldensians, Old Prussians and political enemies of the popes. Saladin was a famous leader in the Third Crusade, who led the Islamic armies against the Western Christian armies. He was a sultan of a large empire that embraced Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz, and Yemen. During his time in the Crusades, Saladin became an Islamic hero by capturing almost every Crusader city, including the all famous Jerusalem.

This is a photo of the infamous sultan Saladin. His journeys and conquests in the Crusades made him one of the most reknown military leaders in world history.

Ibn Khaldun and other scholars - Sarah Mann 

• Historian, sociologist, lawyer, mathematician, and philosopher
• Born in Tunis (North Africa) in 1332 C.E.
• Wrote an autobiography in 1394 C.E.
• Held positions in the government of Spain
• Many times he was chief Qadi of the Maliki school of jurisprudence in Egypt
• His book Kitab al-Ibar, which is about universal history, was published in seven volumes in Cairo (1384 C.E.)
• Known for the Muqaddimah which means Introduction and is the first volume of Kitab al-Ibar
• Was professor of law and religious judge in Cairo (1382 C.E.)
• Trapped for seven weeks in Damascus when Timur laid siege on the city (1400 C.E.)
• Ambassador of the Moorish king of Granada to Peter the Cruel of Castile
• He made a pilgrimage to Mecca (1387 C.E.)
• Received an Islamic education – studied the Qur’an and memorized it
• Thought of as the father of Socialogy
• El Zahrawi was another scholar that lived from 940 – 1013 C.E. He is known as the father of surgery

Answers Corporation, "Ibn Khaldun." Answers.com.    2008. Answers Corporation. 9 Oct 2008 <http://www.answers.com/topic/ibn-khaldun>.

Ahmed, Monzur . "El Zahrawi (Albucasis) - father of surgery." August 1990 . 9 Oct 2008 <http://www.ummah.net/history/scholars/el_zahrawi/>.

A R C O SERVICE , "IBN KHALDUN." 2007. A R C O SERVICE . 9 Oct 2008 http://www.arab.it/arte/ibn_khaldun.htm.

This is a pictire of Ibn Khaldun, the famous North African Arab.

Stateless Societies - Matt Myers 

• Stateless societies are, in general, societies that do not have a well-defined, centralized form of government; they are all governed at the most local level, and generally have no official governmental institutions. This was particularly the case for the stateless societies of Africa.
  • The early African societies of Ghana, Oyo, and Zimbabwe are examples of the “stateless societies”
    • Stateless societies have existed in Africa since the beginning of mankind, and 400 million Africans still live under mere tribal leadership.
  • These societies were usually in secluded areas with little to no outside influence.
    • They have formed from the near-absence of threat or competition from the larger, centralized societies, these groups have had neither the opportunity, or the need, to form a centralized state.
  • Historians have traditionally paid little to no attention to the stateless societies of Africa due to either prejudice or simply lack of information.  

This is a stereotypical African village under a stateless system. A large percentage of these people will probably never venture outside of their village’s immediate vicinity, and never know much about the outside world.

Sources:

"Activity Two-Explore Types of Government In Pre-Colonial Africa ." Unit 2: Studying Africa through Social Studies 9 Oct 2008 <http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m10/activity2.php>.

Tosh, John. "A Political History of an East African Stateless Society." Clan Leaders and Colonial Chiefs in Lando 9 Oct 2008 <http://books.google.com/books?id=p9pizZxKbmkC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=stateless+societies+africa+around&source=web&ots=lDz6vtUwNu&sig=ckw6-ORx2eDPvPNbJnCGCtGnI_w&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPP1,M1>.

Berber States and the spread of Islam - Shampa Panda
Berbers are the inhabitants of North Africa, bordering the Nile valley. Also referred to as Moors in early English literature. Before the spread of Islam, the Berber states had been invaded many times, by Carthage, Rome, and various barbaric groups. However, those invasions did not result in the permanent impressment of foreign ideals.
 

Islamic conquest began under the Ummayads, a ruling Muslim dynasty, in 670. An Arab army under Uqba ibn Nafi established rule in the Northern town of Qayrawan, and until 697 the Berber people and Arabs ruled the Berber states in turn. Arabs alienated the Berbers by taxing them heavily, treating converts (malawi) as second class citizens. As a result, 739-740 saw open revolt by the Kharijites, who later put into place theocratic tribal kingdoms.

"The Berbers of North Africa." Angelfire. 10 Oct 2008 http://www.angelfire.com/az/rescon/mgcberbr.html.

A Berber woman in traditional dress.

Ethiopia and christian kingdoms - Dan 

Ethiopia and early Christian empires

• Ethiopia dates back to about 100 BC
• According to legend Cush the son of Ham founded the city of Axum.
• Axumite kingdom emerges 4th A.D and flourishes for six centuries.
• 4^th and 6^th centuries are times of the greatest power.
• Decline from the 8^th to the 12^th century A.D
• Southern Eritrea, Tigray, Lasta, and Angot were part of its lands.
• Axum and Adulis were the main cities.  In the beginning Yeha was helpful in the growth of Ethiopia.
• At the height of the kingdoms power Ethiopia ruled from the Red Sea to parts of the Nile.
• After the 6^th and 7^th centuries it lost the South West Arabian lands and its power centralized to its main cities, its power shifting to the south.
• When the Arabs were at war Axum was not on their Jihad or Holy War.
• Once the Kingdom “collapsed” the capital of the state was only used for coronation of kings tracing their lineage to Axum, also served as a religious center
• The kingdom shrunk to a small area was able to maintain it self and spread Christianity to the Agew population and controlled Northern Highlands in Eritea to Shewa.
• People of Amhara called Semities spread Christianity over the Shewa region.

 Map of ancient Ethopian Empire.  The map shows what made the are inhabitable it gives access to the sea allowing trade.  Not only that but this position allowed early interaction with the Beudoins creating a benicifial relationship between them.

I wanted to add this picture well because I enjoy the Epic of Gilgamesh, last year we read this in English.  I also added it because it metions Dilmun a kind of rest area for sea traders.  It also is one of the ealriest records of contact between the Jews, Akkadians and the Arabs.

Sahel-Crystal 

                    The Sahel is a region of Africa that spans from the East coast to the West coast measuring 2,400 miles long, at almost a thousand kilometers wide.  The region is right below the Sahara, connecting the infertile desert to the more fertile Sudan region (not the same as the country).  The Sahel is still hot, but not as dry as the Sahara, and is classified as tropical savannah.  It is largely flat, staying within a few hundred meters of sea level.  Most of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic.  There were Sahelian Empires, whose strength grew from controlling the trade routes from the Sahara to the Sudan region.  These cities include Timbuktu, Gao and Djenné.  Around 5000 B.C.E. there is evidence that wild rice is cultivated and domesticated, the rapid shrinking of the water supply ruined this practice however.  Currently the soil is infertile becuase of its acidic and porous quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel

The orange highlight shows the location of Sahel in Africa.

Coastal trading ports - Lauren Sink

·         Islamic ports tied to trade across Indian Ocean along east African coast –what/where

·         Contact across the Indian Ocean dated back to at least the 2^nd century BC -when

·         Immigrants settled on Madagascar and introduced bananas, coconuts and other foods to African coast -who

·         Small coastal villages of fishers and farmers dotted this coast –who

·         By 8^th and 9^th centuries visitors and refugees from Oman and the Persian Gulf inhabited some villages attracted by possible trade with Zenj, or the east African coast –when/who

·         By 13^th century, string of urbanized east African trading ports developed along coast

·         These towns shared common “coastal” language and other cultural traits

·         Ivory, gold, iron, slaves and exotic animals exported from these ports

·         Persian silks and Chinese porcelain were imported for the ruling Muslim families

·         Kilwa controlled Sofala, which had access to gold produced in interior

·         Sofala was the farthest point south

·         From 13-15^th centuries, Kilwa flourished in international trade

·         As many as 30 port towns dotted the coast by then

·         Some Chinese ports sent goods directly to Africa in 13^th century

·         Chinese discontinued contact after 1431

·         From then on goods from China came from ships of Arab or Indian traders

Cite: (the book)

World Civilizations. 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. 10 October 2008.

This is a map of the area of trade routes and port towns.

Ibn Batuta - Leya 

• Born February 24, 1304
• Known as a traveler and an explorer
• Travelled almost 75,000 miles in his lifetime
• completed several hajjs.
• Published a book about his travels entitled "A Gift to Those who Contemplate the Wonders of the Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" or simply, "Journey"
• Died in Morocco between 1368-1377.
• Died from the Plague
• Book was lost until 1800's
• Famous for his story and respected becasue of his journeys.
• Has a mall and a crater on the moon named after him.

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200004/images/part2/BATTUTA_14.47307.jpg

Here is Ibn Battuta admiring treasures in Delhi.

Son-Jara (Sundiata) epic - Mindy 

• Son-Jara is a main character, plus the name of an epic tale.
• It is an oral tale, it was never written down until generations of speaking of the tale.
• It was said that he was the son of a hunchback lady, who really was a buffalo
  & an African King known as "the Handsome."
• Tells story of rise to one of Mali's most greatest Kings.
• Epic begins of his embarassing childhood.
• than the jealousy between his step mother and half brother for full control of future power.
• A child, he experienced a creul wakening of a harsh ruler in Mali.
• he devoted his life to build an army to overthrow this Ruler.
• He knew that if he was going to take power, he would have to make wealth.
• Mali empire became very wealthy due to crop selling
• Epic of Sundiata is subject of many Scholar Disscusion.
• Today part of lessons in primary schools in Mali.
  
  
  http://everything2.com/e2node/Son-Jara
  http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61AVDJ1P1XL._SL500_AA240_.jpg
  http://www.smso.net/Sundiata_Keita
  
  
   

This is the cover of the book
"Sundiata: Lion King of Mali." It tells stories
and major events in Sundiata's life. It's an

African Folklore story book for children.
 

Bantu Migrations - Brianna 

• occurred from 1000 BC - 1100 AD
• originally lived in West Africa
• started migrating soth and east 3,000 years ago
• early igrations followed two paths along the Congo River
• Later migrations moved down south more where it was better for crops
• http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/ca/books/bkf3/imaps/AC_06_206_bantu/AC_06_206_bantu.html

Map of Bantu migration

Patriarchal vs Matriarchal - Kelly Best

Lineage and property through males

Penalty higher for killing/hurting a man

Men considered superior to women

Higher likelihood of polygamy for males only

Lineage traced through women

Daughters/wives valued greatly

Property passed from mother to daughter

Women had greater roles in decision-making

Stearns, Peter. World Civilizations The Global Experience. Fourth AP. New York, NY: Pearson Longman, 2006.

(The caption on the site said this was a matriarchal society, although to me it appears to be)

A patriarchal society

Trade in Africa never really became popular in the west until the city of Carthage was built on the south bank of the Mediterranean sea 800 BCE. Once traders had a good port to work out of, they began to domesticate the camel. The Camel became a staple mode of transportation because of their ability to walk long distances on little nourishment. When Islam was founded many Muslim traders began to settle in Africa. There, Muslim slave traders spread both western civilization's goods, especially gold, salt, and slaves, but also, and most importantly they spread Islam. Today, Islam is one of the most practiced religions in Africa. Goods were spread from Mesopotamia and Europe to Saharan Africa and lead to the rise and rule of the Ghana and Mali Empires.

Domesticated Camels near the Pyramids of Egypt

African gold trade - Rishi

The introduction of the camel in the fifth century influenced gold trade quite a bit in Africa because it allowed trade to be possible across the Sahara.  From then on, annual trade caravans were established.  When gold in Sudan was discovered, coins were created; demand for coin money in Ghana generated quite a bit of demand for gold througout Africa. 

Trans-Saharan trade integrated with Mediterranean trade from the seventh to eleventh century; this exchange involved Africans receiving salt in return for their gold, something the Africans needed a lot of to preserve their food. 

At the end of the twelfth century, Ghana’s Islamic beliefs interfered with the traditional beliefs regarding gold, so trade caravans bypassed cities in Ghana, and Mali became the new African center for demand. 

Gold flow to the northeast continued throughout the entire African Gold Trade.  Through centers like Cairo, Europeans got their hands on African gold and used it for their own money. 

Gold trade never really ended completely; however, in the fourteenth century, the market crashed when a large supply was brought to Cairo at once, drastically reducing demand.  A short while after, slaves became more important than gold and the African Gold Trade “stopped.”  

This is a map of Africa.  The shaded portion indicates the empire of Mali in the fourteenth century, and the dashed lines trace the main trans-Saharan routes of the period.

Source for Information and Image:  Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th–14th century)". In Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gold/hd_gold.htm (October 2000)