This chapter discusses the origins and expansion of Islam from 100 to 750 CE. It begins by covering pre-Islamic Arabia and the rise of Mecca as a trade hub. It then discusses the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the founding of Islam in the 7th century. Next, it summarizes the rapid expansion of the Islamic empire from 632 to 661 under the first four caliphs. It also discusses the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750 and its further expansion. Finally, it describes early Islamic society and culture, including religious observances, Islamic law, and tolerance of other faiths.

1. Connections: A World History
Second Edition
Chapter 11
The Origins and
Expansion of Islam,
100–750
Connections: A World History, Second Edition
Edward H. Judge • John W. Langdon

2. The Great Mosque at Mecca

3. The Expansion of Islam, 632–732 C.E.

4. The Origins and Expansion of Islam
100–750
A. Pre-Islamic Arabia
B. The Rise of Islam
C. Islam Expands, 632–661
D. The Umayyad Caliphate, 661–750
E. Society and Culture in Early Islam

5. Pre-Islamic Arabia

6. Pre-Islamic Arabia
A. Camels and Commerce
1. Isolation
2. Camel transport
3. Southern Arabia and trade

7. A camel caravan.

8. Pre-Islamic Arabia
B. The Collapse of Southern Arabia and the
Rise of Mecca
1. Challenges and competition
2. The introduction of monotheism
3. Destruction of southern Arabian states
4. Mecca

9. FOUNDATION MAP 11.1 Physical Geography of the
Arabian Peninsula

10. MAP 11.2 Arabia and Adjacent Regions, 500 C.E.

11. The Rise of Islam

12. The Rise of Islam
A. The Prophet Muhammad
1. Early life
2. Revelations
3. A new prophet, a new religion, and a new
mission
4. The Qur’an

13. A hand-copied page from a 19th-century edition of
the Qur’an.

14. The Rise of Islam
B. From Mecca to Medina
1. Hijra
2. Umma
3. Five Pillars of Islam
4. Conversion of Mecca

15. The Shahadah: “There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is His messenger.”

16. Islam Expands
632–661

17. Islam Expands, 632–661
A. An Agreement Between Leader and
Followers
1. Succession crisis
2. The caliphate
3. Jihad and the two houses
4. The caliphate as empire

18. MAP 11.3 Islamic Expansion in Southwest Asia,
632–661

19. Islam Expands, 632–661
B. The Challenge to a Unified Islam
1. Divisions
2. Sunnis and Shi’ites

20. The Umayyad Caliphate
661–750

21. The Umayyad Caliphate, 661–750
A. Umayyad Expansion
1. Centralization and expansion
2. Commerce and expansion
B. Collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate
1. The Abbasids

22. MAP 11.4 Islamic Expansion, 661–732

23. Society and Culture in Early Islam

24. Society and Culture in Early Islam
A. Religious Observance: The Mosque

25. The Dome of the Rock.

26. Society and Culture in Early Islam
B. Legal Uniformity: The Shari`ah
1. Islamic law and daily life
2. Gender and Islamic law
B. Tolerance of Other Faiths

27. Salat, or ritual worship, mandates a sequence of
prayers to be performed five times each day

28. Key Dates and Developments