Introduction+to+Islam

Intro to Islam - by Kaia, Drew, Emma, Chris G, Sam L

Before Muhammad founded Islam in 613 CE, the people were organized in clans, with little agriculture, art, intellect, and with an animistic and polytheistic religion. There were no ethics. The turning point began with the founding of Islam by Muhammad in 613. The political structure was now a theocracy, with the god Allah as ruler. Muhammad was the leader 610-652. The religion included the five pillars, which helped to shape the lives of the society. After Muhammad’s death, the Islamic people split into two groups, the Sunnis and the Shiites. The Sunnis believed that anyone could be the leader, as long as they were Muslim, but the Shiites thought the next ruler should be a descendant of Muhammad. The Umayyads (sunnis) took over from 661-750, but they were not very strong and fell to the Abbasids (Sunnis) in 750. The Abbasids took over and ruled until 1258. They designed an umbrella government. The trade and whole economy rose because of Islam, and there was a growing number of converts. Ideas increased, and art included mosques and palaces. Baghdad became the new capital. The Islam Golden Age occurred during this empire. The decline of the Abbasids occurred with Shiite rebellions and an invasion of the Seljuk Turks, who used the Abbasid rulers as puppets. More financial problems turned up, and the arts declined. They finally fell 1258 CE.