The document provides information on the origin and expansion of Islam. It began in the 7th century AD in the Arabian Peninsula under the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad and his followers fled from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD due to attacks, in an event known as the Hegira. After Muhammad's death, his successors continued conquering new territories across North Africa and the Middle East. One of the most significant Islamic empires was the Umayyad Caliphate, which established its capital in Damascus and expanded across the Iberian Peninsula to establish al-Andalus. The document also briefly outlines Islamic society, politics, economy, and urban layout during this period.

1. UNIT 2
THE ISLAM
AND
AL-ANDALUS
2nd graders
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
Almudena Corrales Marbán
Created by Cristina de la Vega
Lienhart.

2. 1. THE ORIGIN AND
EXPANSION OF THE ISLAM
Islam originated on the Arabian
Peninsula, a huge desert land.
Its interior was inhabited by tribes of
polytheistic Arab nomads.
The main cities of this peninsula were:
Medina and Mecca, located in the western
part of the peninsula. Both were prosperous
cities.
These cities were a crossroad (encrucijada de
caminos) for the merchant caravans comming
from the Far East.
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3. Muhammad, the prophet, was born in the year
570. Muhammad’s teachings were written down
in the Koran-their sacred book-.
He soon had followers in the Arabian Peninsula.
However, not all the Arabian inhabitants
supported him. Because of the spread of his
doctrine-monotheistic- to believe just in one
god, he was victim of numerous attacks. As
Jesuschrist suffered when he started preaching
Muhammad and his followers fled (escaparon)
from Mecca to Medina in 622. This moment is
called Hegira(huída). Revelations from the
archangel Gabriel
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4. He decided to organise an army and they conquered Mecca in
630. Then he continued across the rest of the Arabian
Peninsula.
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5. 2. ISLAMIC POLITICS
Muhammad’s successors continued to conquer territories. The caliphate
went through various stages:
1. THE ORTHODOX CALIPHATE (632-661): caliphs were people
close to Muhammad. (Califato Ortodoxo)
2. THE UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750): power was in the
hands of the Umayyad dynasty, who established the capital in
Damascus (Syria). (Califato Omeya)
3. THE ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-1258): in the year 750, the
Abbasid family took control and transferred the capital city to
Baghdad (Irak). (Califato Abasida)
In 1258, Baghdad was conquered by the Mongolians.
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6. Baghdad a round city
Baghdad nowadays
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7. The main authorities in Islamis society were:
The caliph: highest political and religious
authority.
The vizier: prime minister.
The royal treasurer: collected taxes.
Emirs: governors of provinces.
Judges: responssable for applying laws.
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8. 3. ECONOMY
3.1. AGRICULTURE
• Hardly any agriculture in the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Arabs needed to obtain water and used various techniques like
water-wheels and irrigation channels.
3.2. CRAFTWORK
• Practice in cities.
• Activities: tanning of hides, tapestries, carpets, cotton, silk, woolen fabrics,
jwellery, ivory, perfums and weapons.
3.3. TRADE
• One of the main sources of wealth (riqueza)
• City markets (souks) zocos.
• They used coins (dinar and dirham)
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9. They commerce over land and also by the sea.
One of the main routes was the SILK ROUTE
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10. 4. SOCIETY
Islam society was mainly urban.
Cities were made up of different
areas:
1. The alcazaba: walled area on
high ground were the emir
lived.
2. The medina: central part of
the city (mosque, madrassa,
souk, baths, hospitals)
3. The arrabales: where low
classes lived.
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