Islam spread extremely quickly throughout the Middle East and North Africa. This spread was possible due to the following factors:
In the early days of Islam, conquering armies expressed toleration for Christians and Jews. In fact, Muslims referred to Christians and Jews as "people of the Book," an acknowledgement of their shared beliefs. Christians and Jews were not forced to convert and were allowed to freely practice their religion (however, they were required to pay an extra tax).
However, conflict will occur. After a Muslim army enters Europe in the early 8th century, European forced halted the spread of Islam in the Battle of Tours. And, for the next several centuries, Christians and Muslims will fight over control of Jerusalem in a series of wars known in Europe as "The Crusades."
- The simplicity of Islam made it easy to understand and learn
- There is no priesthood or religious hierarchy
- The trade routes made the spread of Islam very easy
In the early days of Islam, conquering armies expressed toleration for Christians and Jews. In fact, Muslims referred to Christians and Jews as "people of the Book," an acknowledgement of their shared beliefs. Christians and Jews were not forced to convert and were allowed to freely practice their religion (however, they were required to pay an extra tax).
However, conflict will occur. After a Muslim army enters Europe in the early 8th century, European forced halted the spread of Islam in the Battle of Tours. And, for the next several centuries, Christians and Muslims will fight over control of Jerusalem in a series of wars known in Europe as "The Crusades."
This website was designed to supplement a high school World History course, examining the birth of Islam and how it spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. A free webquest sheet is available here.
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