Early Islamic Civilisation

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In the year 610, a successful merchant called Muhammad reported hearing voices that recited passages to him, which he later recognised as revelations from God. Muhammad shared them with his wife and close friends, and gradually attracted a small group of followers from his home town of Mecca who began to practise a new religion. This new religion became known as Islam. People who practise Islam are called Muslims.

Meri, Josef Waleed, ed. Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2006, Abingdon, U.K. There were several capital cities of the Caliphate throughout history. Some of the major capitals included Medina, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, and Istanbul. There are "Five Pillars of Islam" that form the framework of the religion of Islam. They are 1) Shahadah (declaration of faith) 2) Salat (prayer) 3) Zakat (charity) 4) Fasting 5) Hajj (pilgrimage). Children can be introduced to the idea that people from other civilisations have contributed to many ideas that impact on us still. They can learn about some of the differences in way of life between citizens of Baghdad and London c. AD 900. Links can be made with other cultures that contributed to the formation of theories that are still used within modern day Britain. Children will also be introduced to personalities who undertook challenges on a huge scale to leave behind fascinating legacies. There is a strong emphasis on children investigating issues and solving valid historical questions recognising the nature of the evidence on which their judgements and knowledge are based.

This timeline activity will help children develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history in contrast to each other, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.

At its peak, the Umayyad Caliphate was one of the largest empires in world history. It governed around 28% of the world's population.Muhammed lived from 570 CE to 632 CE, with the Qur'an being the main holy text. He was born in Mecca but moved to Medina with his followers to escape religious persecution. The Islamic Empire was founded in Mecca and led by Caliphs.

The teacher notes provide guidance for using this resource, and blank timelines have instructions for children working individually or as a group. You can use our Early Islamic Fact Sheet for help with completing the timeline. However, powerful people in Mecca felt threatened by Muhammad’s popularity and his declarations that there was only one God, and they opposed him. He took his followers to Medina in 622, where he built an Islamic community around the mosque they constructed there. Robinson, Chase E. Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives: The First 1,000 Years. University of California Press, 2016, Oakland, Calif.

The Islamic Empire expanded throughout the Middle Ages to become one of the largest empires in the history of the world. It controlled the Middle East, northern Africa, the Iberian peninsula (Spain), and parts of Asia into India. Casana, Jesse. "Structural Transformations in Settlement Systems of the Northern Levant." American Journal of Archaeology, Volume 111, Issue 2, 2007, Boston. Located between Asia and Europe, Baghdad was an ideal place for overland trade between the two continents. Soap, honey, diamonds and more were traded on The Silk Road. Industries in silk, glass and tiles were developed and Baghdad was the first city in the Islamic world to have its own paper mill. A technique learnt from Chinese travellers. Many of the discoveries related to medicine, including the invention of cauterising wounds, forceps for childbirth and the use of catgut for stitching wounds, all still used today. Help children to learn about the history and achievements of the early Islamic civilisation, including Baghdad, with this knowledge organiser containing the key knowledge and vocabulary from our PlanIt UKS2 history unit.