IAR RR 5: The Rise of Islam and Its Effect on the Middle East

     As the second-largest and one of the fastest growing religions in the world, Islam is a powerful force in today's society.  It has 1.5 billion followers (22% of the world's population) in almost every country on Earth.  Because it is so dominant in the modern world, it has affected many different aspects of everyday life.  This impact is not a new development in Islam:  the religion has a rich history going all the way back to its origins during the 6th century CE.

     Islam was founded by a man named Muhammad, who was born in Mecca in 570 CE.  When he was forty years old, he received his first vision, and shortly thereafter began preaching monotheism.  Because the large majority of the Middle East were polytheists, his message was opposed by many.  But for as many people who opposed his teachings, there were just as many who listened to and followed him.  He warred against many Arab tribes, but was eventually successful in conquering Mecca and making it the center of the Islam faith.  He died in 632 CE, but even after his death Muslims were continuing to unite the Middle East, until Islam was the largest political entity in the West.

     The most prominent effect Islam has had on the world--specifically, the world of design and architecture--is the creation of the mosque.  Because Islam's origins lay in the Middle East, away from Greece and its architecture, the structure of the mosque is entirely different from that of the Christian church (which has its roots in Greek architecture).  It too has a rectangular shape; however, the mosque is constructed around its orientation to the city of Mecca, with a qibla wall standing at a right angle to a line towards Mecca.  It is this wall that Muslims face during sermons.  A standard mosque also includes a courtyard at the entrance, and a fountain used for washing the body.  While mosques and churches are similar (rectangular shape, courtyards, etc), the circumstances surrounding their origins have shaped them very differently overall. 

THINGS TO REMEMBER:
--Since its origination in the 6th CE, Islam has become one of the largest and most influential forces on the planet, with nearly a quarter of the world's population adhering to its tenets.
--Because Muhammad died without leaving instructions for a successor, Islam split over how his territory should be ruled.  This divide exists even to this day.
--While a building of worship is not required in Islam, the mosque has evolved as a center of worship for Muslims.  Because Islam originated in the Middle East and not the West (where Greek-inspired architecture is the norm), the mosque and the Christian church are designed very differently and reflect differences in the two faiths.

IMAGE SOURCES:
--https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhropOq5iUDuAmf9DGQLSAH4LTIZ7ow9ogu94wQ9Feu0lbT6LG_MPvbaLUvWiWMCjnEn_z2nbUPp0q87pXK9pbZZtcnMkbfLzgUaN27uEfd1jMN1oWkx_UtLFtFqOZ8j8Av7qn8AG3uudc/s1600/Muslims-praying-.jpg
--http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/upload/q8793112.jpg
--http://americanvision.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Dome_of_Rock.jpg