Ch. 6: The Rise and Spread of Islam

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Ch. 6 The Rise and Spread of Islam
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Pre-Islamic Arabian World

• Arabian Peninsula
• Desert
• Little water
• Hot climate
• Windy
• Inhospitable region

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Tribal Identity

• Nomadic Bedouin tribes
• Camel and goat herding
• Agriculture limited to oases
• Kin-related clan groups
• Struggle for survival
• Dependent on family
• Water and grazing land critical to survival
• Disparities in wealth and status

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Clan Hierarchy

• Shaykh leader
• Elected by elders
• Men with large herd, several wives and many
  children
• Clan dependent on wise shaykh
• Warriors
• Enforced dictate of shaykh
• Protection of clan
• Slaves
• Served shaykh and clan
• Prisoners of war

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Clan Rivalry

• Struggle for survival
• Family loyalty
• Protection of water and pasture land
• Frequent warring with other clans
• Water
• Land
• Honor

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Towns and Trade

• Towns along Red Sea
• Mecca
• Founded by Umayyad
• clan
• Camel trade city
• Political rivalries
• Site of Kaba
• Yathrib (Medina)
• Oasis
• Bedouin trade
• Political control by Bedouin clans and Jewish
  clans

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Trade Brings Interaction

• Mecca
• Wealthy merchant class
• Home of Kaba
• Houses statues of gods
• God represents each clan
• Religious truce among clans
• Allows freedom of exchange
• Medina
• Date growers
• Trade with Bedouins
• Fewer camel caravans than Mecca

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Women in Pre-Islamic Arabia

• Role of women
• Greater freedom than other civilizations
• Key economic role
• Weaving
• Milking camels
• Raise children
• Allowed multiple marriages like the men
• Man paid bride-price to family of bride
• No veils or seclusion
• Advice highly regarded

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Women

• Advisors
• Poets
• Not equal to men
• Not warriors
• Drudge laborers

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Pre-Islamic Religion

• Animistic and polytheistic
• Gods relevant to daily life
• Morality tied to tribal custom
• and code of honor

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Oral Tradition

• Poetry
• Love
• War
• Vendettas
• Loyalty
• No written language