Sunday, November 22, 2009
Islam and the Great Spread
Islam started with the creation of the Earth. It did not start to gain a large following however until the prophet Mohammed was born in 570 A.D. He began preaching about the God and reading the scriptures of the Quran. He brought together the many tribes in the Middle East and began to preach what Islam truly means, “submission to God”. The Muslims, this is what followers of Islam are called, also started to conquer land to spread their faith. They conquered large parts of northeast Africa and the Middle East. This is the only area where the spread of Islam was done by the sword in this time. When the faith spread to other parts it was done by the draw of the faith. Here is a religion with one God, and he showed mercy on his subjects. This expansion was done after the death of Mohammed. He died in 632, and through his followers Islam saw this great expansion. Islam spread to the Southern tip of France, India, China, more of Africa, and numerous other parts of the world. Today, Islam is still the fastest growing religion, and it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. It gets a bad rap because of the terrorist attacks, but at its heart it is a religion founded on love and equality to all. A select few have distorted the image of an entire religion.
If you would like to find out more about Islam check out these sites:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/history.html
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/history.html
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Islam and Europe
The crusades created a constant demand for shipping and men to travel to and from the middle east to gather goods. The economy of many European countries benefited from the invasion and conquest of this area. Items from the middle east were so enchanting and captivating that there simply was not enough of it to satisfy as many Europeans that wanted such goods.
As for many of the Aristocrats and wealthy people who set out for the middle east in search of wealth and prosperity from these lands many of them never returned and the their land and belongings were granted to the kings and queens of these countries. this gave prominence back to many of the kings and queens of the European realm.
Many of the ideas and intellectual advancements of the time for Europe came from the middle eastern realm. The people of the East were far more intellectually advance than their western European brothers and many scientific ideologies were brought back to Europe with the crusaders.
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/effects-of-crusades.htm
Surrender
Muslims serve Allah in hopes of receiving a gift from him in return. They recite prayers and obey his commands in order to receive earthly or heavenly rewards. The most precious gift they can receive is eternal salvation, which Allah has already given them. Therefore, they behave self righteously to achieve many good deeds and Allah’s grace.
In Islam, prayer to Allah is not voluntary, but rather an obligation. Many different regulations have been enforced in order to ensure Allah is the center of everything. For example, it is mandatory that everyone washes their hands, feet, arms, mouth, and face before prayer. This law is enforced to create a sense of purity in the mosques, and anyone who does not oblige to the rule has nullified their prayer.
One main prayer in Islam is “guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom thou hast blessed, not of those against whom thou are wrathful, nor of those who are astray.” This particular prayer expresses a Muslim’s dependency on Allah. Each Muslim frequently calls out to their god in prayer, and desires to serve him and fight for him wholeheartedly.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Richard the Lionhearted Encounters Saladin
Richard the Lionheart king of England raised money through taxes and assembled an army with the help and support of France to retake Jerusalem from Saladin and the Muslims. “The two most significant remaining leaders to set out on crusade from the West were Richard of England and Philip of France, who set out by sea separately in 1191. Richard stopped at Cyprus on his way to the Holy Land and conquered the island before meeting up with Philip at the siege of Acre on 8 June 1191. Saladin was unable to break the Christians' blockade, and the city fell to the crusading kings in a little over a month, after which Philip departed to return to the West and Richard turned south toward Jaffa.” During the march on 7 September 1191, Saladin attacked the crusaders on the plains near Jaffa, but he suffered a heavy loss. Richard was then able to take Jaffa, and secure the use of its port. Soon after Saladin tried to retake Jaffa but was unsuccessful.
“However, Saladin's relationship with Richard was one of chivalrous mutual respect as well as military rivalry. When Richard became ill with fever, Saladin offered the services of his personal physician. Saladin also sent him fresh fruit with snow, to chill the drink, as treatment. At Arsuf, when Richard lost his horse, Saladin sent him two replacements. Richard suggested to Saladin that Palestine, Christian and Muslim, could be united through the marriage of his sister Joan of England, Queen of Sicily to Saladin's brother, and that Jerusalem could be their wedding gift.”
Soon after the two commanders agreed on a three year truce. King Richard returned to home to England and shortly after Saladin in 1193. The Third Crusade failed to recapture Jerusalem, but it did secure the coastline from Jaffa to Tyre, creating a point from which future crusades could be launched.
1 Lawson, Rich. Richard and Saladin: Warriors of the Third Crusade
2 Lawson, Rich. Richard and Saladin: Warriors of the Third Crusade
found at http://www.shadowedrealm.com/articles/exclusive/richard_saladin_warriors_third_crusade
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Expansion of the Islamic/Arab Empire
Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World. Vol. 1. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2009. 2 vols. Print.
http://books.google.com/books?id=mBuaPAAACAAJ&dq=ways+of+the+world+strayer&ei=0Tj7Su_vK46OMoSi_YQP
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Western Christendom’s face was the Byzantine Empire. It was the eastern half of the Roman Empire that still remained. Byzantine was based at Constantinople, which is modern day Istanbul, Turkey. The empire was in a war against the Muslim people of the Middle East. The Byzantines were in existence for over 1,000 years, and their empire ended because of the Ottomans. The Byzantines had one of the finest navies of the time, and they were able to repulse the Muslim’s from gaining ground and breaking through their massive walls. This would not last forever though, as the Ottoman Empire united the Muslim people and were able to make a full out attack. The city finally fell in the mid 1400’s, and the Roman Empire fell with it. It was a severe defeat for Christianity and they would repay the Muslims at the Battle of Lepanto. This battle helped to stop the spread of Islam across Europe, and gave people a choice of which religion was right for them. This holds true to what the United States of America was founded upon, and what we still believe today.