RLG204H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Zoroastrianism, Quraysh, Polytheism
Document Summary
Arabia, the cradle of islam: arabian peninsula is known as the the island of the arabs , peninsular separated by water from al 3 sides- persian gulf, arabian sea, indian ocean & red sea and. Mecca: a trade hub: northern and central arabia did not benefit from rain-bringing monsoons that made agricultural possible in southern areas of the peninsula. In north, major trade hub was palmyra (syria) while commercial activities centered town of mecca: around 400, mecca became home to arab tribe named quraysh. Mecca: a religious center: a city preceding the rise of islam and was a site of a pagan sanctuary frequented by the nearby. Impossible to deny that islam introduced new form of social solidarity aimed at supplanting kinship and replacing them w/ loyalty to new religious community called umma. Built on common belief in one and only god: non pagan religions of arabia are christianity, jews, and zoroastrianism.
