One can find the origins of the Islamic faith in the Arabian Peninsula. There, the local polytheist population conducted cross-continental trade, notably in Mecca, a center of commerce and a spiritual destination even pre-Islam (Brooks, 2019). In the sixth century CE, a prophet named Muhammad informed Mecca’s people that he had received God’s message: there is the one true God who is to be worshipped exclusively (Brooks, 2019). Islamic faith was based around Muhammad’s recitations of God’s will – the Koran (Brooks, 2019). Aside from the singular God and his prophet, Islam requires: praying daily facing Mecca, fasting during Ramadan, giving charity to the poor, and undertaking the Mecca pilgrimage (Brooks, 2019). These beliefs unite all Muslims into the Ummah community, struggling to abide by the Koran’s pillars; this struggle is known as Jihad (Brooks, 2019). The leaders hold dual political and spiritual authority governed by Sharia, an Islamic law based on Muhammad’s life and teachings (Brooks, 2019). Thus, the nature of Islam regulations throughout the Ummah is bifold.
Upon Muhammad’s passing, various conflicts arose around leadership inheritance. Believers formed two clashing fractions: Shi’ites, believing that only direct descendants should become Caliphs (leaders), and Sunnis, arguing that nobility and competence should suffice for appointment (Brooks, 2019). In the meantime, Muslim conquests expanded eastward to the Middle East and westward from the peninsula to North Africa and even Spain, establishing multiple caliphates (Brooks, 2019). While Arabic was instilled as a primary language, international land and marine trade were governed by integrated European systems (Brooks, 2019). Hence, Arab governance over this territory was not resolutely Muslim: rather, it incorporated practices of colonized nations.
The influence of Islam on Western history is undeniably significant. By the time European colonizers began their quests, the Muslim empire had spread across continents and Asia (Brooks, 2019). ‘The Golden Age’ of Caliphates embraced scientific discovery, aiding the proliferation of general literacy, various natural sciences, medicine, banking, engineering, and philosophy (Awaluddin & Maznorbalia, 2019). Spain and Sicily became inter-religious and international hubs, allowing Muslims, Christians, and Jews to coexist (Awaluddin & Maznorbalia, 2019). Hence, much of this knowledge has dissipated throughout Europe during the conquest times; moreover, later in history, Europe relied heavily on importing numerous luxury products and other goods (Brooks, 2019). Overall, Caliphates’ superior trading and scholarship enabled it to contribute to forming European history substantially.
References
Awaluddin, M. A., & Maznorbalia, A. S. (2019). A suggestion that Europe is also Muslim: A study from historical and contemporary perspectives.Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 9(1), 83.
Brooks, C. (2019). Chapter 14: Islam and the Caliphates. In Western civilization: A concise history (Vol. 1, pp. 229–246). Portland Community College.