The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD led to the rise of new powers, including the Islamic Empire. Islam originated in the 7th century in Arabia, founded by the prophet Muhammad who received revelations that became the Quran. He spread Islam from Mecca to Medina, and after his death the religion continued expanding under successive caliphates. The Umayyad Caliphate established the capital in Damascus and expanded the empire from Persia to Spain. The Abbasid Caliphate moved the capital to Baghdad and some territories became independent. The Ottoman Turks rose to power in the 13th century and conquered the Byzantine Empire, with their empire lasting into the 20th century. Islamic civilization was based

1. THE MIDDLE AGES. THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE
María Jesús Campos
learningfromhistory.wikispaces.com

2. THE FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE
The fall of the Western
Roman Empire after
the conquest of Rome
by the Ostrogoths in
the year 476 A.D.
meant the break-up
of Mediterranean
unity and the arose of
new powers and
civilizations as the
Germanic Kingdoms,
the Byzantine Empire
and the Islamic

3. THE BREAK-UP OF MEDITERRANEAN UNITY

4. THE ORIGINS OF ISLAM
 For centuries,
nomadic Arabs had
lived on the Arabian
peninsula. They lived
in tribes that were
often in conflict with
each other.
 They considered the
city of Mecca as their
holy city although
they had different
religions
(christianism,
judaism, animism…)

5.  At the end of the 6th
century, a man name
Muhammad announced
that he was the
messenger of Allah (the
name he gave to God).
 He was a merchant
living in Mecca that had
studied the two
monotheistic religions,
Judaism and
Christianism.
 Using some of their
principles and some new
he stated that he had
been ellected by Allah to
preach a new religion,
Islam.

6.  At first, the Arabs
did not believe him
so he had to escape
from Mecca to the
city of Medina. This
is called the Hegira.
 In Medina he spread
his religion and with
his followers he
returned to Mecca
and expanded the
new religion
throughout Arabia.

7. ISLAM
 Islam means
submission to God. Its
followers are the
muslims.
 Its holy book is the
Koran which contains
the revelations of
Allah and the 5
principles of faith.

8.  The 5 principles of
faith are:
 To testify that there
is no God but Allah
and that
Muhammad is His
prophet.
 To pray 5 times a
day.
 To go on a
pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in
their lifetime.
 To fast during the
month of Ramadan.

9. Muhammad’s
goverment.
(1st half 7th
century)
The Orthodox
Caliphate
(7th century)
The Umayyad
Caliphate
(2nd half 7th
century)
The Abbasid
Caliphate
(2nd half 8th
century)
The Ottoman
Turks
(13th century)
THE EXPANSION OF THE ISLAMIC EMPIRE:
POLITICAL PERIODS

11. MUHAMMAD’S GOVERNMENT (1ST HALF 7TH CENTURY)
 Muhammad became the religious and political leader of
the muslims.
 Following the idea of holy war, the muslims began to
conquer territories.

12. ORTHODOX CALIPHATE
 After Muhammad’s death, the highest authority of muslims was the
caliph. The first four caliphs were direct descendants or friends of
Muhammad.
 During this period the entire Arabian peninsula was conquered.

13. UMAYYAD CALIPHATE
 On the second half of the 7th century, the Ummayyad family took
power.
 They made the title of caliph hereditary.
 The capital was established in Damascus.
 They expanded the Empire from Persia to the Iberian Peninsula.

14. ABBASID CALIPHATE
 On the second half of the 8th century, the Abbasid family took
power.
 The capital was established in Baghdad.
 Some territories, like the ones in the Iberian Peninsula, became
independent.

15. OTTOMAN TURKS
 After the 13th century, an Islamic group, the Turks became
powerful inside the Empire. They wanted to rebuild the splendour
of the Islamic Empire.
 The Turks took power and conquered the Byzantine Empire during
the 15th century.
 Its empire was going to survive until the 20th century. It
dissapeared after the I World War.

17. ISLAMIC ECONOMY AND CULTURE
 The islamic civilization
was based on urban
life. Cities such as
Damascus, Baghdad or
Cordoba were very
important.
 This was possible
thanks to a developed
trade, a rich agriculture
and an impressive
craftsmanship.
 Muslims travelled by land
and sea buying spices in
Asia and gold, ivory and
slaves in Africa and
selling them in Europe.
 Those travels allowed
them to know and spread
inventions such as
gunpowder, the compass,
the zero number and
medical knowledge.

19. ISLAMIC ART
 The most important
building was the
mosque. Its main
wall always looked in
the direction of the
city of Mecca.
 They did not use
expensive materials
but they were very
creative in
decorations.

21.  During some political
periods, they did not
represent people in
art (iconoclastic
rules).
 Nevertheless, they
had beautiful
geometric or
vegetable designs as
well as a beautiful
calligraphy which
they used to decorate
walls and objects.

23. Developed by María Jesús Campos
Chusteacher
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