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During the Postclassical Period, the religion of Islam spread throughout the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Despite this new religion's similarity to already existing beliefs, such as Christianity and Judaism, it completely altered
the cultural structures of the areas that it spread to. -
Muhammad recieved these revelations when he was meditating in the wilderness. This was significant because these revelations led him to write the Qur'an. This affected the culture of all regions that practiced Islam at the time because it gave them more information about their beliefs so they could follow and worship their God better.
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When Muhammad died, Islam was split into two branches: The Shi'a and the Sunni. This is significant because it split the people of the Islam religion. This changed the culture of virtually every Muslim because it changed their beliefs of who should lead the religion.
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Abu Bakr launched campaigns to end the rebellion of the Arabian tribes that antagonized him. This was significant because it ended the conflict between Abu Bakr and the rebelling tribes. It affected the culture in the Middle East because it brought the tribes back into the Islamic faith.
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Arabs were inspired by their new found religion to begin their conquests. This event is significant because it expanded the land of the Arabs and spread their religion. This affected the culture of the Middle East because the people of the newly conquered regions adopted the Muslim religion.
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Starting in the 8th century and continuing onward, the Muslims graduall increased their control over the coastal trade of India. This event was significant because Muslims began interacting with Southeast Asia more and more as time went by. This affected the culture of Southeast Asia because elements of Islamic culture began filtering into the region through trade.
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Qasim led more than 10,000 warroirs into battle against the people of Sind. This was significant because he conquered new land for the Islamic civilization. This affected the culture in South Asia because the people of India became exposed to Islam.
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Sometime in the 11th century, a reformist group called the Almoravids began to grow due to the increasing opposition towards the Arabic states that formed in Africa. They launched a holy war, or jihad, and moved against the African kingdoms and Spain. This was significant because it freed the people from the Arabic rulers that governed the states in Africa. It affected the culture in Africa because it allowed the Muslim religion to penetrate into sub-Saharan Africa.
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Mahmud's raids on India began in the 11th century and continued throughout the end of the 12th century. This event was significant because it strengthened the hold that Islam held on India, which was beginning to weaken. This affected the culture in South China because it strengthened the influence that Islam had on India.
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In the 13th century, the trading empire of Shrivijaya collapsed. This event was siginificant because it allowed the Muslims to take the trading ports that once belonged to Shrivijaya. This affected culture in Southeast Asia because it further increased Muslim interaction through trade.
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Sunni Ali was a great leader who was born in 1464. He established the empire of Songhay. This man was significant because his empire expanded and eventually dominated central Sudan. This affected culture in Africa because the Songhay empire was Muslim, and as it expanded, it placed Islamic influence over the areas that ir conquered.