Middle Ages - Islamic Empire

Around 631 A.D., a prophet named Muhammad began a new religion known as Islam. The religion followed that of the Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian religion. The religion began to spread in Arabia, and the book of the Islam people was called the Qur'am. Islamic people were also known as Muslims. The capital of this religion would eventually be in the city of Mecca.

Where did Muhammad's Islamic religion begin to spread, and what city became the capital city of the Islamic people?

• The Islamic religion of Muhammad began in places like Persia and Iraq and the capital would be in Teheran.

• The Islamic religion of Muhammad began to spread in Arabia, and the capital of the Islamic world was in the city of Mecca.

• The Islamic religion of Muhammad began in Egypt and spread toward the east into Arabia and Bagdad.

The Islamic people unified Arabia and created a very large army and navy. The Islamic armies began to invade other places in Mesopotamia, such as Syria, and in Africa by invading Egypt in the late 7th Century. By the year 750, the Islamic Army invaded Iraq, and Persia, and even spread into Afghanistan and parts of west India. They also invaded most of North Africa. With each conquest, their armies became larger and stronger.

By the the year 750, what places did the growing Islamic Army invade and what happened after every invasion.

• By 750, the Islamic armies invaded Rome, Constantinople, France, and South Africa, and their armies grew with each invasion.

• By the year 750, the Islamic armies invaded only Mesopotamia and Egypt, and their armies only grew a little bit.

• By the year 750, the Islamic armies invaded Iraq, Persia, parts of west India, and most of North Africa. With every invasion their armies became larger and stronger.

Around 711 A.D., the Islamic Navy carried the Islamic armies across the western part of the Mediterranean and into what are now Spain and Portugal. Most of the Islamic invaders who went there were called Moors, because the invasion began by Islamic soldiers in Morocco (North Africa). The Moors would control about 70 percent of Spain and Portugal. There were some Spanish kingdoms strong enough to resist, but most were invaded by the Moors.

Where did the Islamic armies invaded beginning around 711 A.D., and what were most of the Islamic soldiers from Morocco called?

• The Islamic armies crossed the western part of the Mediterranean and invaded about 70 percent of Spain and Portugal. The Islamic soldiers were called the Moors.

• The Islamic armies who came out of Morocco invaded France and Italy after crossing the Mediterranean. The Islamic soldiers from Morocco were called Moros.

• The Islamic soldiers of Morocco did not care about invading Europe because they didn't like the Europeans.

In October of 732 A.D., the Islamic Army called the Umayyad attempted to invade Gaul (France). The leader of the army in Gaul was Charles "The Hammer" Martel, who was one of the Carolingians. On October 10, the Islamics landed in Gaul and tried to take over with a large army. However, Charles Martel's soldiers were waiting, and hidden. When the Islamic soldiers went ashore, Martel's army attacked and absolutely destroyed the Islamic soldiers. It was called the "Battle of Tours." It was a disaster for the Islamic armies and future attempts on France would be difficult.

Where did the Islamic Umayyad army attempt to invade in 732 A.D. and who was the leader of the Carolingians who destroyed the Islamic army invasion?

• In 732 A.D., the Islamic Umayyads attempted to invade France. A nice guy named Charles "The Hammer" Martel welcomed them into France and said, "Now you guys are in charge!"

• In 732 A.D., the Islamic Umayyad soldiers attempted to invade England. But, their ships sank in the English channel due to a divine wind.

• In 732 A.D, the Islamic Army under the Umayyad tried to invade France but was a failure as Charles "The Hammer" Martel led the Carolingians in the battle.

Defeating the large Islamic Armies was very difficult. In Spain and Portugal, the Islamic Moors had control of most of the kingdoms. In the 11th Century, the Spaniards began what was called the "Reconquista" under the leadership of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (the Islamics called him El Cid). However, many of the kingdoms in Spain would not work with each other against the Moors. Around the 1470s, the two strongest Spanish kingdoms, Castile and Aragon, united when Queen Isabela of Castile and King Fernando of Aragon married. The two strong kingdoms were finally able to drive the Moors out of Spain.

In the 11th Century, who became the leader of the "Reconquista?" Also, what two kingdoms finally united and were able to drive the Moors out of Spain?

• The leader of the "Reconquista" in the 11th Century was Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (El Cid). By the 1470s, the queen of Castile and the king of Aragon united and finally drove the Moors out of Spain.

• The leader of the Reconquista was Fernando of Aragon. By the 1470s, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (El Cid) married Isabela of Castile that sided with the Moors who stayed in Spain.

• The leader of the Reconquista in the 11th Century was Isabela of Castile (La Cid). In the 1470s, Rodriga Diaz de Vivar married Fernando of Aragon and they moved to France.

Around 1095 A.D., many Europeans were very concerned about the spread of the Islamic Empire, and the fact that they took over the Holy Land in Israel. So, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church recognized a need for the First Crusade. Armies from all over Europe who were often fighting with each other, joined the cause against the Islamic Empire. As time passed, there were 10 Crusades. The pope's idea was to retake the Holy Land, but the kingdoms of Europe believed it was to protect Europe from invasion.

Who recognized a need for the First Crusade, and what was the primary idea of the Pope?

• The Pope wanted the armies of Europe to invade all of Mesopotamia, North Africa, and Spain so he allowed the First Crusade in 1095 A.D.

• The Pope recognized a need for the First Crusade in 1095 A.D. Many European armies joined the cause. The primary idea of the Pope was to restore the Holy Land while the kingdoms were more interested in protecting Europe.

• The Pope didn't really know that the European kingdoms were worried about the invasion of Europe so he decided to cancel his idea for the First Crusade.

In 1453 A.D., the Islamic Ottoman Turks invaded the capital city of the Byzantine Empire, which was Constantinople and changed the name to Istanbul. The Ottoman Turks didn't stop there. They invaded much of eastern Europe as well, and would hold some of the land until 1918 (World War 1 finally ended the Ottoman Empire).

Where did the Ottoman Turks invade in 1453 and what else did they invade after that?

• The Islamic Ottoman Turks invaded Constantinople and changed the name to Istanbul. After that, they invaded much of eastern Europe and would hold onto some of it until 1918.

• The Islamic Ottoman Turks went to Italy and Invaded Rome and Naples and changed the names of the two cities. The Ottoman Turks also invaded most of western Europe and would hold it until 1875.

• The Ottoman Turks of the Islamic religion invaded Constantinople. But, they were nice guys and decided not to invade anywhere else.

Christian people have churches, and Jewish people have synagogues or temples. Zoroastrians have churches too. Islamics have what they call Mosques for their religious meetings. Of course, just like Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, the Islamics also have separate denominations of their religions. Christianity has denominations such as Roman Catholic, Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Eastern Orthodox, and many others. Islam has Sunni, Shi-ites, Druze, and many others.

Where do Jewish people go to get together for their religion, and where do Islamic people go for theirs?

• Actually, the Jewish people, Christian people, Zoroastrian people and Islamic people practice their religious meetings in Ziggurats.

• Jewish people practice their religion in mosques while Islamic people practice theirs in temples.

• Jewish people practice their religion in building that are called synagogues, while Islamic people practice their religion in mosques.

The Islamic Empire was a major threat to Europe. That empire invaded Spain, Portugal, and finally eastern Europe. They also tried to invade France but were turned away. So, do you believe the pope's call for the Crusades the right thing to do?

• Yes, it was because there was a threat to Europe.

• No, because the Islamic people only invaded part of Europe.

As mentioned earlier, In 1492, when the two strongest Spanish kingdoms united, the Moors were booted out of Spain after over 800 years. This was followed by what was called the Spanish Inquisition, where the Spanish kingdoms attacked all Moors remaining, along with Spaniards who worked with the Moors. The Inquisition was very brutal, and probably many of those attacked did not actually work with the Moors.

What did the Spanish kingdoms do during the Spanish Inquisition?

• The Spanish kingdoms looked only for peace with everyone, including the Moors.

• The Spanish kingdoms brutally attacked the remaining Moors and those to worked with the Moors.

• The Spanish kingdoms allowed the remaining Moors to become pure Spaniards.