Indonesia, India, and Pakistan. Conversely, while the Middle East has a much smaller
population, over 90 percent of Middle Easterners adhere to the Islamic religion.The Age of Ignorance
In order to better understand the history of Islam and its influence in the globalized
world, it is necessary to have an overview of the early Middle East, particularly the
Arabian Peninsula, where Islam originated. The geography and climate of the
region can be described as generally semiarid and arid, with insufficient rainfall to
support agriculture except along river valleys or near oases. This is especially true of
the Arabian Peninsula, historically thedomain of the nomad. Domestication of the
camel around 3000 BCE allowed nomadic groups to move across the peninsula’s
arid vastness in search of water and fodder for their herds. Constantly on the
move, these pastoralists were unable to develop the architectural and cultural arti-
facts that characterized the early great civilizations of the Middle East, such as the
Sumerian and Babylonian to the east and the Egyptian to the west. Instead, they
developed cultural expressions more suitable to their mobile lives and what was nec-
essary for survival in the harsh desert environment.^149 During this pre-Islamic era,
which Muslims refer to as the“Age of Ignorance”(jahiliya),^150 “early Arabs com-
posed poems that embodied their code of values: bravery in battle, patience in mis-
fortune, persistence in revenge, protection of the weak, defiance of the strong,
loyalty to the tribe, hospitality to the guest, generosity to the needy, and fidelity in
carrying out promises.”^151 Loyalty to one’s tribe was paramount, and intertribal wars
and raids against trade route caravans were common. These early groups practiced a
variety of religions, including Judaism, Christianity, animism, and ancestor worship,
but a tradition developed among the tribes to annually suspend hostilities and con-
duct a pilgrimage to an ancient shrine in the city of Mecca.^152 This became an
important part of Islamic history and remains the destination of today’sMuslim
pilgrimages (hajj).The Rise and Spread of Islam
Islamic civilization began in the early seventh century and stretches across more than
1,400 years, encompassing far more events than space and time allow for examination
here. Thus, our focus will be on the rise of Islam in the Middle East, with only brief
mention of its spread to other parts of the world. However, you should keep in mind
this is only one part of the story of Islam. Chapter 4 discussed the establishment of
Islam as a religion by the prophet Muhammad. Therefore, all you need remember
here is that Muhammad, who came from a merchant family in Mecca, received his
heavenly revelations about 610 CE and began recruiting followers. It is, however,
important to note that Muhammad reportedly received oral revelations from the
angel Gabriel and passed them to others orally. It was only after his death that the
Koran, which means“the recitation,”was transcribed. This is yet another example
of the Arab cultural value of orality.
Our historical examination of the rise and spread of Islam will begin with
Muhammad’s death in 632 CE. When he died, there was no clear line of succession
for the Islamic leadership. Muhammad left no male heir and did not designate anyone190 CHAPTER 5•Cultural History: Precursor to the Present and Future
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