islamic empires to post on web

Islamic Empires • What are the defining features of Islam as a belief system? What are its origins?

1/30: The Hajj • AIM: How is the Hajj an important component of Islam? • What do you remember about the Islamic belief system?

Islam Review • Founded by Muhammad in 622 C.E. – Arabian Peninsula • Eventually split into two sects: Sunni and Shia (Shiite) • Holy book: Quran (or Koran) • Worship in Mosques • Code of behavior: “5 pillars” • Monotheistic (God = Allah)

What can you infer about the Hajj from this quotation? “There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blueeyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white… I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.”

Malcolm X, 1964

Questions to consider: • How did the Hajj affect the development and spread of Islam?

2/1 – Establishing Islam • AIM: How did Islam become established as a religion? • Opener: Share out your answer to yesterday’s question: “How did the Hajj affect the development and spread of Islam?”

Questions for reflection: • 1. What was the Quran’s message regarding social justice? Are there any parallels between it and Judaism and Christianity? • 2. What was the importance of the umma? How is the umma reflected in the Hajj?

Questions for reflection: • 3. Describe the concept of “Jihad”. What are the two types of jihad? • 4. Interpret this quote from Jesus and predict how Muhammad might respond to it: – “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”

2/5 – Sharia Law • AIM: How is the concept of Sharia important in Islam? • Opener: Review last night’s homework and prepare to share out.

Comparing the development of Christianity vs. development of Islam

Christian Church vs US Law • Think of examples of “laws” of the church that are not government laws. (You would not get sent to jail or otherwise punished for breaking them).

Sharia Handout • You will be assigned one section to read. Answer questions #1, 3, 5 and prepare to share with a group.

Questions • What did you find interesting about your passage? • How does the role of law in early Islamic civilization differ from that of modern Western society? • What does this document suggest about the problems that the early Islamic community confronted?

2/5 – Transformation into Empire • AIM: How did an Islamic Empire develop?

• Opener: Would combining religion and political rule help or hinder the spread of Islam? Why?

The Making of an Arab Empire • Muhammad dies in 632 C.E. • Over the next 100 years, Arab armies have conquered the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Central Asia and Europe.

Motives: • To capture profitable trade routes • Military expansion = wealth and social promotion • To spread religion (jihad)

Conversion • Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians were recognized as “people of the book” and given protected status. • Non-Muslims had to pay a special tax known as the “jizya”. • Incentives for converting: – Avoid the tax – Access to trade and opportunities associated with a large and powerful empire

Arab vs. Islamic

2/7 – Divisions in Islam • AIM: What divisions arose in early Islam?

• Opener: Homework review – in what ways were women equal to men in Islamic society? In what ways were they unequal? (Good responses will also address the CAUSES of equality and inequality)

Divisions and Controversies: • Caliph: The chief Muslim civil and religious leader. • Once Muhammad died, how should his successor be chosen?

Sunni vs. Shia (Shiite) • Abu Bakar was the first caliph, but there were tensions almost immediately as to who should rule. • Sunnis felt that the caliph should be chosen by the Islamic community. • Shiites felt that leaders should come from descendents of Ali and his son Husayn (both relatives of Muhhamad).

Shiite / Sunni Divisions today

Sufis • Represented Islam’s mystical dimension – they sought a direct and personal experience of God. • Renounced material world; meditated on the words of the Quran. • Use of music and dance and poetry to express their devotion

2/8 – Sufi Mysticism • AIM: How did Sufis interpret Islam? How does it differ from orthodox Islamic teachings? • Opener: Sufis played a large role in spreading Islam around the globe. Why do you think Sufis were particularly effective in this regard?

Whirling Dervishes • http://youtu.be/L_Cf-ZxDfZA

Rumi’s Poetry • Annotate the three poems by Rumi. Then, – How would you define the religious message of Rumi’s poetry? – How does it differ from the approach to Islam reflected in the Sharia? – What criticisms might the orthodox legal scholars (ulama) have made regarding the Sufi understanding of Islam?

Homework: • Read textbook pages p. 133-142 on the Ummayad and Abbasid Dynasties. • Fill out a PERSIA+G chart comparing the two.

• Reminder: Islamic Empires test on Friday 2/15!

2/11 – Compare and Contrast Essays • AIM: To learn how to write effective compare and contrast essays. • Opener: Write a 1-2 paragraph response comparing the political, social, and economic features of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates.

Sample Outline: • Intro • Paragraph 1 (Political aspects of dynasties) – Similarity #1 AND reason for this similarity – Similarity #2 AND reason for this similarity

• Paragraph 2 (Political) – Difference #1 AND reason for this difference

• Intro • Paragraph 1 (political) – Similarities AND differences (if not too long) – Reasons

• Paragraph 2 (economic) – Similarities and differences (if not too long) – Reasons

Words you must be very careful with or rarely/never use in any writing • • • •

People Things / Everything / something Stuff Pronouns where it’s not clear who/what you’re referring to. (E.g. : “they / it / etc.”)

• “Islam was appealing to many people. They converted easily.”

Transitional Words • Contrasting words: – On the other hand – Although – However – On the contrary – While – But (just not at the start of a sentence) – Even though – Despite

Transitional Words • Comparing words: – Also – Both – Similarly – Like – Furthermore – On the same note – In the same way – Too – In addition

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2/13 – Compare & Contrast Essays • AIM: To learn how to write effective compare and contrast essays. • Opener: Rate your partner’s essay for the following: – Similarities – Differences – Explanations/reasons for similarities or differences

Peer Review • Rate each category as “1” “2” or “3” – 1: Unclear – 2: Pretty good – 3: Great

• When conferencing with partner, tell them – one thing you thought they did well – one suggestion.

Homework • Read textbook pages 147-158. Update your Abbasid PERSIA+G chart

2/14 – Islam Review • AIM: To review for the Islam test.

• Opener: Rate your partner’s essay for the following: – Similarities – Differences – Explanations/reasons for similarities or differences

Peer Review • Rate each category as “1” “2” or “3” – 1: Unclear – 2: Pretty good – 3: Great

• When conferencing with partner, tell them – one thing you thought they did well – one suggestion.

What is wrong with this topic sentence? • “In India and West Africa there were both similarities and differences in how Islam spread to those regions”