The document provides an overview of the history of the Arabian Peninsula before and during the rise of Islam in four sections: 1) Pre-Islamic Arabian society was tribal and nomadic or urban, centered around Mecca. 2) Muhammad received revelations in 610 CE and established Islam, fleeing to Medina in 622. 3) The Umayyad caliphate expanded the Islamic empire across North Africa and Spain but faced internal disputes. 4) The Abbasids defeated the Umayyads in 750 and established Baghdad as the new capital, promoting Islamic learning while repressing Shi'a influence.

2. I. Desert and Town: The Pre-Islamic Arabian World II. The Life of Muhammad and the Genesis of Islam III. The Arab Empire of the Umayyads IV. From Arab to Islamic Empire: The Early Abassid Era

3. I. Desert and Town: The Pre-Islamic Arabian World Bedouins Camel herding Agriculture A. Clan Identity, Clan Rivalries, and the Cycle of Vengeance Clans Grouped into tribes Shayks Free warriors Rivalry B. Towns and Long-Distance Trade Entrepots Mecca Umayyad clan, Quraysh tribe Ka’ba Medina Arabia and Surrounding Area Before and During the Time of Muhammad

4. I. Desert and Town: The Pre-Islamic Arabian World B. Marriage and Family in Pre-Islamic Arabia Women have important roles Polygyny, polyandry C. Poet and Neglected Gods Animism, polytheism Including Allah Arabia and Surrounding Area Before and During the Time of Muhammad

5. II. The Life of Muhammad and the Genesis of Islam Banu Hasim clan Orphaned Mecca Khadijah Revelations, 610 via Gabriel Persecution, Flight, and Victory Ka’ba gods threatened Invited to Medina, 622 Hijra Return to Mecca, 629 Arabs and Islam Umma Universal Elements in Islam 5 Pillars Acceptance of Islam Prayer Fasting during Ramadan Payment of zakat Hajj The Expansion of the Islamic Empire During the 7th and 8th Centuries

6. III. The Arab Empire of the Umayyads Death, 632 Succession struggle Consolidation and Division in the Islamic Community Abu Bakr Ridda Wars Motives for Arab Conquest Conversions Booty Weaknesses of the Adversary Empires Sassanian Empire Zoroastrianism Dynasty ended, 651 Byzantium The Problem of Succession and the Sunni-Shi’a Split Uthman 3rd caliph Murdered Ali Rejected by Umayyads Siffin, 657 Loses suppor Assassinated, 661 Son, Hasan, renounces caliphate Son, Husayn Killed, Karbala, 680 Sunni – Umayyads Shi’a – Ali’s descendants Mu’awiya Caliph, 660 The Umayyad Imperium Push west Stopped at Poitiers, 732 Retain Iberia Converts and “People of the Book” Malawi , converts Dhimmi , people of the book Jews, Christians Later, Zoroastrians and Hindus Family and Gender Roles in the Umayyad Age Islamic ideas prevail at first Umayyad Decline and Fall Revolts Merv Abassid revolt 750, Umayyads defeated by Abassids

7. IV. From Arab to Islamic Empire: The Early Abassid Era Sunni rule repress Shi’a Baghdad New capital Islamic Conversion and Mawali Acceptance Town and Country: Commercial Boom and Agrarian Expansion Urban expansion Ayan The First Flowering of Islamic Learning Building Mosques, palaces