The Rise and Spread of Islam

The rise and appeal of Islam can be attributed to many factors. Islam became popular because of the Qur’an, Muhammad’s personality, the immense faith among the early followers, it’s logical and clear principles and that those principles were consistent and logical (al-Islam). It was because of Mohammed’s personality that created the interest in Islam; the religion was not immediately popular when it was first introduced. It was only after Muhammad and his followers left their home for Medina, where the population welcomed Muhammad and the Muslims.

Only after Muhammad became famous was he able to garner more followers and converts to Islam (World History Connections To Today, 257). Islam’s believers increased on a daily basis because of the caliphs and their agendas. Islam exploded rapidly during the times of the caliphate through successful military conquests. The campaigns were so successful and far-reaching, that by 750 AD, Muslims controlled land from present-day Iran in the east to present-day Portugal in the west and in North Africa to the south (World History Connections To Today, 260).

Many people remained loyal to the religion after the empire detiorated because of the clear principle of the belief in one God. There were no others next to him, just prophets. There were also no conflicts within the religious teachings and the principle of treating all creatures with respect resonated within its followers. It was rare to have religious tolerance practiced toward different religions, yet the Qur’an celebrated it (al-Islam). Muhammad’s popularity was the primary attraction to Islam, but its message, principles and duties is what has kept the religion together throughout many centuries.

People are still dutifully performing the requirements set forth in the five pillars which are, accepting God as the one true God, performing daily prayers, giving to the poor, fasting during Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca (World History Connections To Today, 258). Many factors had to congeal to form the Muslim faith, and it will continue to be strong as long as the basic tenets of the religion are held sacred. Works Cited Guertin, Wilson H. , and, Mohammed J. Chirri. “Why Is Islam Popular? ” al-Islam. 2 January 2009 <http://www. al-islam. org/inquiries/3. html. World History Connections to Today. Teacher’s ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon & Schuster, 1999. Charlemagne, Contributions and the Church Charlemagne and the Carolingians contributed many legal and enlightening influences over the empire. He helped spread Christianity and sent out officials to ensure justice was met according to his laws (World History Connections To Today, 188). Improvements were also implemented in the educational sphere.

Charlemagne ensured his officials maintained accurate records and even had a scholar from York named Alcuin set up a school based on the Latin curriculum. In turn, Alcuin hired scholars to copy ancient works which would be used as textbooks for almost 1000 years (World History Connections To Today, 189). The Carolingian’s ensured that educational advancements were taken seriously and as a result, there was a large exchange of information amongst schools, clerics and the court. Learning increased under the Carolingians where scholars and monks collected, copied and spread the ancient works.

A type of library exchange occurred where authors would loan works and borrow books also (Schools Empire). Still under the Carolingian empire, Charlemagne was part of a groundbreaking occurrence when Pope Leo III crowned him “emperor. ” The pope’s crowning implied that Charlemagne was the sole ruler of the Christian Roman Empire, a ruling that reverberated through Christendom. The crowning caused dissention between the eastern and western Christians and the Roman Catholic popes and subsequent German emperors.

The split between the eastern and western churches happened because the head of the eastern empire in Constantinople was not pleased that Charlemagne was chosen as the sole head of the Christian empire (World History Connections To Today, 188). Even though Charlemagne’s kingdom deteriorated after his death, his positive reforms continued to help people (World History Connections To Today, 188). Works Cited “Schools of Carolingian Times. ” School Empire. 12 January 2009 <http://schoolsempire. netfirms. com/otschol. htm World History Connections to Today. Teacher’s ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon &

Schuster, 1999. Cathedrals and the Church The Roman Catholic Church and empire became very powerful and wealthy during the medieval period, therefore they built immense cathedrals to exhibit their wealth, their devotion to God and their tithing duties (World History Connections To Today, 227). Tithes were supposed to comprise 10% of a person’s income, so the wealthier a person was, the more money he or she would donate to the church (World History Connections To Today, 197). The cathedrals became a book for the teachings of the Bible and they exhibited civic pride within the community (Hilton, 1).

Eventually, cathedrals became even more elaborate and began to acquire carved sculptures that depicted Bible stories to aid the uneducated, illiterate population in understanding the teachings of the Bible (World History Connections To Today, 228). Wealthy and devout congregations enabled grander and grander cathedrals to be built while the Roman Catholic Church became more powerful and more influential over its congregation. Cathedrals were even able to function as currency; some were laden with jewels so that in times of hardship, the church simply picked them out of the architecture and sold them for money (Hilton, 4).

Since cathedrals were erected to exhibit devotion shows just how entrenched the church’s authority was within medieval life. The cathedrals’ and the community were governed by canon law, which were religious teachings that also governed everyday life (World History Connections To Today, 196). The church wielded absolute power and if a person violated canon law, he or she could be excommunicated, which would ban him or her from receiving the sacraments, being shunned by their peers and losing the right to a Christian burial (World History Connections To Today, 196).

The church was also the hub of the village’s social life and even had theater performances and concerts held within it (Hilton, 5). The cathedral may have existed to show man’s devotion to God and as a means of educating the illiterate population, but its other function as a social center made them absolutely necessary. Works Cited Hilton, Alice. “How to Read the Great Cathedrals of Europe. ” New York Times 19 April 1981. World History Connections to Today. Teacher’s ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon & Schuster, 1999. Feudalism

In feudalism, the nobility were comprised of several classes, the top of the hierarchy being the nobles. The ruler was the head and then there were the dukes, counts and knights. Knights were noblemen who left home at seven in order to learn how to ride, how to take care of their armor and how to fight. When a “trainee” turned 21, he became a knight. Knights existed to protect the lord and his land, which included the women and the peasants (World History Connections To Today, 192). The noblewoman’s education incorporated learning in the womanly crafts before she could be considered for marriage.

Her learning consisted on knowing how to spin, how to weave and how to supervise servants. Her wifely duties were bearing many children, remaining loyal to her husband and to watch the manor while the man was away (World History Connections To Today, 193). The lord’s land was worked several days a week by peasants who received protection and housing from the lord, but were granted permission to work a small patch of land to farm for themselves. They were bound to the lord’s land and had to ask permission to leave it. If another family bought the manor, the serfs were included with it and thus, they had a new lord.

In addition to working the lord’s land, they also made repairs around the manor. Peasants did not get free housing and free protection; they had to pay the lord when marrying, inheriting acres or using the mill to grind grain. The short supply of money meant that the payments were commonly in the form of chickens, eggs, grain, etc. (World History Connections To Today, 194). The clergy attended to the community and God. They were monks and nuns who rescinded their worldly lifestyle to become devoted to the spiritual one.

They took oaths of poverty and vows of chastity, purity or obedience. Their main duties were prayer and worship and to provide basic social services to community like tending to the sick and impoverished. They were not completely cloistered; some became missionaries to spread Christianity and good works even further. (World History Connections To Today, 198). Therefore, everyone under the feudal system had a job. The nobles and knights gave shelter and protection, the noblewomen tended the manor, the peasants worked the land and the clergy assisted the village.