Islam

Summary

During the period of 500-1450, changes involving the spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam occurred across political and cultural borders that developed a regular system of trade that connected Asia, Africa, and Europe. Faith and trade would clash, for examples religious leaders would look down on merchants because the thought merchants were lured by the wealth. Christianity and Buddhism were already established religions that gain popularity during this time, while Islam was a completely new religion that gained popularity. All three religion were involved in active missionary efforts. As well as they benefited from government sponsorship and military pressure, because many people during this time adopted a religion that still prevails in Asia, Europe and Africa. Trade gradually expanded beyond that capacity of the silk road and used the India Ocean and Mediterranean Sea as hubs and trade expanded farther and wider to places such a Northwest Europe, West Africa and Japan. The post classical era was a period of decline for classical empires. When empires failed more people turned to religion of reassurance. Another effect was the collapse of empires boundaries which cause people to look for new areas. Expanded trading caused better ship navigation to be out, Chinese with the compass, the Middle east with better ship design, and maps. New banking was also out. The spread of the religions promoted mutual tolerance. Religions also created new loyalties that could compete with other view (political). Religious devotion increased but some people mixed with other interest like commercial life. Economic contribution to religion would sometimes exceed the tax payments. The area of trades provided a link for processed goods, like gold and slaves. New technology was being produce. China invented paper, painting, and explosive that spread to the Middle East and Europe then eventually to India where they developed the numbering system, which the Arabs blending with the Greeks. Trade had a down side disease such as the "black death" were passed. The post classical period saw troubles for woman, major religions considered men and women spiritually equal. Religion gave woman a new roles that were good such as more rights but in some situation not as good such as making woman more like ornaments.

**ESPIRIT Chart** You must include main ideas and details in each category

Civilization/Nation/Group: Time Period: [|Pre-Islamic Movie Notes !.docx]
 * E || * Goods were sold at bazaars
 * Trades were made on camels and goats
 * Gossip was exchanged as well as goods ||
 * S || * Women were not equal to men
 * Women’s job included milking cows, raising children
 * Multiple spouses were acceptable ||
 * P || * Shaykhs were leaders of tribes and clans and were chosen. ||
 * I || * Constant fighting
 * Nomadic ||
 * R || * Blend of animism and polytheism.
 * God : Allah
 * Worship of nature spirits. ||
 * I || * Interacted with other societies in the exchange of ideas in medicine, poems, music ||
 * T || * Bows and arrows ||

Espirt Abbasid Movie Summary: Mecca was a flourishing city with trade and religion. The people of Mecca believed in a polytheistic religion where they worshiped many gods which consisted of their ancestors. Muhammad was born in Arabia, and at infancy his parents sent him to live with the "better ones". At age 6, both his parents died and his was taken in by his uncle, leader of a clan. While being an outsider, he had an understanding and felt empathy for others. Muhammad was a peacemaker. Muhammad soon became a merchant. While on a journey, he met a widow who proposed to him and got married. One day, he was in a cave and saw a angle in the form of a man telling him the message of God, that "There is no god but "God". Muhammad became God's messenger and the last prophet. When he tried to spread his ideas into Mecca, he had many believers as well as many skeptics. Tension arose. The government want to get rid of Muhammad and his ideas, but under the protection of his uncle clan, they couldn't. When his wife and uncle died, he moved to help a different society solve their problems with the agreement that him and his people would be safe. Muhammad continued on with his teachings of God's ideas. However soon violence broke through between Mecca and Muhammad's people, but in the end Muhammad won. After wining the went to the Kaba in Mecca and smashed the polytheistic statues. Muhammad was very tolerant of other religions and non believers, and didn't punish them. Still this day the Islamic religions still exists.