How was Islam directly tied to the beginnings of monotheism? Who was Ishmael, and how was he described in the Bible and the Koran?
Mohammed was arguing over more than the belief in one God. Why were the Arab leaders threatened by his ideas? What were his arguments regarding proper and ethical conduct?
When the Arabs conquered much of the Middle East and north Africa, how did they treat non-Muslims? To what extent was there hostility between the different faiths, and when was the Islamic expansion welcome?
To some extent the Umayyad dynasty managed the new Islamic state in a way con-trary to Mohammed’s original intentions. What was so different, and how did the Abbasid family react to that disparity?
After the Umayyad dynasty was overthrown one of the princes escaped to al-Andalus. Describe where al-Andalus was, and how its capitol, Cordoba, was more advanced than the rest of western Europe.
The kingdoms in west Africa were strongly influenced by Islam, but the indigenous people often maintained their traditional religions. How were the positions of Mus-lims different from those of non-Muslims? How was their general behavior different from non-Muslims?
My goodness! This looks like a chapter review.
What have you learned in this chapter?
You'll be better able to pass the test if you answer these review questions yourself.
That is very true. Only if I hadn't lost my book. I know bits and pieces of each question but I am not sure if I am 100% right, hence why I posted this, I can't even find these answers on the internet.
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase").
Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section in the first link above will help you best.
To understand how Islam is directly tied to the beginnings of monotheism, we need to trace back to the origins of Islam and the figure of Ishmael. According to the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, monotheism was established by the prophet Abraham, who is considered the father of these religions. In the Bible, Ishmael is described as Abraham's son through his wife Sarah's maidservant, Hagar. Ishmael is seen as a significant figure in the lineage of Abraham, and his descendants are believed to have played a crucial role in the establishment of monotheism.
In the Quran, Ishmael is also recognized as a prophet and is mentioned alongside his father, Abraham. The Quran states that both Abraham and Ishmael were chosen by God and given special status. Islam acknowledges Ishmael as a central figure in the lineage of Abraham and as an embodiment of monotheistic beliefs.
When Prophet Mohammed preached his message of monotheism and the worship of Allah, he faced opposition from the Arab leaders of his time. These leaders were threatened by his ideas because they were deeply ingrained in a polytheistic society that worshipped multiple deities and held economic interests tied to the idols and pilgrimage to Mecca. Mohammed's call for abandoning idol worship, denouncing the societal hierarchy, and promoting a system of justice challenged the existing power structure and threatened the status quo.
Mohammed's arguments regarding proper and ethical conduct were based on the principles of justice, compassion, and accountability. He emphasized the importance of morals, kindness, honesty, and treating others with respect. Mohammed's teachings also included the social responsibility of caring for the poor, orphans, and vulnerable members of society. These ideas challenged the exploitation and oppression prevalent in Arab society, further contributing to the hostility from the ruling class.
During the Arab conquests of the Middle East and North Africa, the treatment of non-Muslims varied. Islamic teachings emphasize respect and tolerance towards "People of the Book," meaning Jews and Christians, who were given the status of protected minorities (dhimmis) and allowed to practice their religion. However, non-Muslims were typically subjected to certain restrictions and additional taxes, known as jizya. The extent of hostility between different faiths during this period varied depending on various factors such as regional dynamics, political considerations, and individual rulers. There were instances of both cooperation and conflict, as different communities navigated the changing religious and political landscape.
The Umayyad dynasty, which ruled the Islamic Caliphate from 661 to 750 CE, managed the new Islamic state in a manner that deviated from the egalitarian and inclusive ideals of Mohammed. The Umayyads established a hereditary system of rule and favored the Arab elites, causing discontent among non-Arab Muslims and non-Muslim populations. This disparity in power, wealth, and treatment of different groups led to dissatisfaction and criticism.
In response to this disparity, the Abbasid family, led by Abu al-Abbas, rebelled against the Umayyads and eventually overthrew them. The Abbasids sought to restore a more egalitarian and inclusive governance system based on Islamic principles. They appealed to the broader Muslim community, including non-Arabs, and promoted a more cosmopolitan approach to rulership that welcomed input from various ethnic and religious groups within the Islamic empire. From their capital in Baghdad, the Abbasids fostered a rich intellectual and cultural atmosphere, patronizing scholars and enabling advancements in arts, sciences, and philosophy.
Al-Andalus refers to the Islamic territories on the Iberian Peninsula, which encompassed modern-day Spain and Portugal. When the last Umayyad prince fled from the Abbasid uprising, he established an independent Emirate in al-Andalus, with its capital in Cordoba. Cordoba flourished as a multicultural and sophisticated city, embracing different religions, languages, and cultures. Its advanced infrastructure, including paved roads, illumination through street lamps, and a grand mosque, called the Great Mosque of Cordoba, showcased the architectural and cultural achievements of Islamic civilization. Cordoba became a center of learning and a beacon of enlightenment, surpassing the rest of western Europe in terms of education, science, medicine, philosophy, and literature.
In West Africa, Islam spread primarily through trade routes, leading to the establishment of various Islamic kingdoms such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. In these kingdoms, Muslim communities coexisted with indigenous religious practices. The position of Muslims in these societies differed from that of non-Muslims, as they often held higher social status and enjoyed certain privileges. Muslims were more likely to have access to education, participate in trade networks, and hold positions of power. However, the general behavior of Muslims and non-Muslims depended on individual circumstances and cultural variations within each kingdom.