Social Studies

Arabia’s Geography & Environment

Arabia:

Receives little rain

Has no permanent rivers

Covered by desert

Because of Arabia's climate, the population was limited 

People depended on oases for water

Early settlements happened around oases in the Hijaz a mountainous region along the western coast of Arabia  

Arabian Peninsula Features:

Surrounded by water on 3 sides

Increased trade with East Africa, India, and China 

The coast provided fertile soil for farming  

            Arabian Life Before Islam

The Arabs (people of Arabia) practiced two ways of life 

Sedentary Lifestyle

Settled and lived in one place

Lived life as farmers and merchants 

Nomadic Lifestyle: 

Had no fixed houses and lived in rural areas  

Bedouins:

Aka. Arab nomads 

Traveled from an oasis with their flocks and herds of animals

Skilled warriors 

Raided other tribes for animals and goods

Trade brought wealth and more settlers 

Jewish people and Christians moved towns in the Hijaz

Meca became a trading center 

Rise of Islam 

Muhammad

Considered the prophet of Islam  by Muslims (people who practice Islam) 

Born in Mecca

It was a religious center at the time of Muhammad's birth 

Had the Kaaba where Arab people would come to worship their gods 

Married a wealthy widowed merchant Khadjia 

Prospered in business but was critical of greed, corruption, and violence in Meccan society 

Often retreated to a cave outside Mecca to pray and reflect 

610; The angel Gabriel appeared before Muhammad in the cave 

Here Gabriel told him to recite messages from God which Muhammad passed on to his followers

These messages were later recorded in the Quran (Islams holy book)

Muhammad began to preach in Mecca

Told Arabs to worship one god and to change many of their behaviors 

Said he received revelations from the same God who had spoken to Abraham and Jesus

Muhammad respected both Judaism and Christianity

Muslims belive Muhammad is the final prophet 

Meccans opposed Islam

Fered that other beliefs would reduce their status and wealth 

Feared that Muhammad would anger the gods they worshiped

The Hijrah 

622: Muhamad and his fellow Muslims fled Mecca and moved to Medina (275 miles north) 

Hijarah= Ardic word for migration 

Medina 

Muhammad continued his preaching 

Became a politician and military leader 

Muslims of Medina fought with the Meccans 

Mecans where defeated 

630: Muhammad returned to Mecca as its ruler banned worship to the gods 

Destroyed Statues of the old gods at the Kabba and rededicated it as an Islamic holy site 

The Kabba became a place for Muslim pilgrims to visit 

Muhammad led desert tribes to conquer the entire Arabian Peninsula 

The spread of Islam continued even after Muhammads death in 632.