1. Conditions in the Middle East in 6th century A.D. leave political vacuum.
2. Arabs fill political vacuum. Bedouins of Arabian peninsula divided as pagans, live by fighting each other. Made into united, powerful military force by religion of Islam.
3. The prophet Muhammad (Mohammad). Member of Quraish tri be in Mecca trade and caravan center.Poor merchant until marriage to wealthy widow Khadijah, made him wealthy merchant. Prosperity causes Arab merchants to seek higher monotheisitic religion to replace nomadic paganism. Muhammad goes into desert to think about problems, chosen by God to receive his message of monotheism, moralistic religion. Muhammad returns to Mecca to preach message among people, gains a few followers.
4. The message of Islam (submission to the will of God) summarized in five Pillars of Islam:

a. Faith. There is no God but God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Prophet of God. Allah as same God as the God of Jews and Christians.
b. Prayer (Salat). Five times daily according to rituals established during the life of the Prophet.
c. Obligation to help poor (Zakat).
d. Fast during month of Ramadan (Ramazan).
e. Obligation to go on pilgrimage to Mecca (Hacc) at least once during lifetime.
f. Sixth pillar: cihad (jihad): Holy War.

5. Reasons for success of Islam over other monotheistic religions preached in Mecca at the same time.

a. Muhammad preached a monotheistic religion for the Arabs in Arabic, unlike Jewish and Christian preachers.
b. Muhammad preached social justice in prosperous society in which the mass of the people did not share in the prosperity.

6. Muhammad opposed by Meccan establishment whose power and prosperity partly depended on maintenance of pagan religion. Causes Muhammad and followers to emigrate (Hicra/Hijra) to neighboring town of Yathrib, where he converts most inhabitants, calls it 'the city' (Medina). Muhammad gradually converts tribes, with combination of religious appeal and military power of tri bes enabling him to convert entire Arabian peninsula with exception of Mecca. Mecca besieged and forced to accept Islam (632). Islam unites Arab tribes into powerful military force.

7.    Death of the Prophet (632) threatens breakup of Muslim community. No provisions for succession. His close followers use Arab tribal tradition to elect one of their number as his successor (Khalifah) as leader of the community, though not as prophet.  Era of the Orthodox Caliphs (632-661) based in Mecca, but Arab tribes conquer much of the Middle East in place of declining Byzantine and Sassanian (Persian) empires. At first ruled from Mecca, but later conquering Arab tribes, and particularly their generals, gain great power and wealth, refuse to accept rule from Mecca. One of them, Muawiyah, establishes Umayyad Empire (661-750) based in Damascus, which conquers North Africa and Spain, pushes into Central Asia. Based on power of Arab tribal armies. Places non Ara bs as subordinates (mawali) to members of Arab tribes in violation of Muhammad's preaching. Leads to revolt of mawalis led by Abbasids (750), esta blishes Abbasid Empire based in Baghdad, which provides equality for all Muslims regardless of origin, amalgamates Persian and Arab culture, language and traditions to create prosperous Islamic civilization in Middle East (750-1258). Power based on religion of Islam (right of Caliph to lead Islamic community, divine right of Caliph to rule) and iqta system which supported powerful army and bureaucracy. Decline starting in about 1100. Rise of heterodox Muslim religious movements reflecting social and economic unrest-Shia and Sufis in particular. Left Middle East in chaos, internal and external invasions, decline of prosperity, political vacuum, anarchy and destruction in 13th century.