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Whiteepp Middle East 7-Phpapp02
Whiteepp Middle East 7-Phpapp02
White
www.cengage.com/cj/white
Chapter 9:
Background to the Middle East
Rosemary Arway
Hodges University
What is the Middle East?
Question of leadership:
o One group of people believed that Mohammed’s male
heir should lead the community (according to Arabic
tradition); they believed that Muhammad’s cousin and
son-in-law Ali had authority provided by God.
o Another group of people believed that the community
should select its own leaders – caliphs (political and
religious leaders).
Shiite-Sunni Split
▪ Importance of community took
precedence over tribal rule of inheritance
– Sunni branch of Islam
o Abu Bakr, become a first caliph in 632CE,
after his death (assassination) Umar
became a caliph.
o Assassination of Umar led to new caliph
Uthman.
o Assassination of Uthman
Shiite-Sunni Split
Sunnis, or mainstream Muslims, followed
the caliph.
o Sunnis compose approximately 85-90% of
all Muslims today.
Followers of Ali became known as
Shiites.
Few theological differences between
Sunnis and Shiites.
o Main difference focused on line of
succession to Mohammed.
Golden Age of Arabs