Religious Schisms

• Religious Tolerance based on the teachings of
the Quran help spread Islam through conversion
• Merchant trade across the Silk Road (Central
Asia), Trans-Saharan Trade Routes (Western and
Eastern Africa) and the Indian Ocean (East Africa,
Sumatra, Malaysia, Indonesia, & China)
• Conquests:
• Syria in 635 CE
• Palestine in 636 CE
• North Africa from 639 – 717 CE
• Persia from 642 – 651 CE
• Turkey and Constantinople 670 – 678 CE
• Northern India by 664 – 738 CE
• Spain from 711 – 750 CE
SPREAD OF ISLAM
632 – 1071 CE
• 622 – 632 CE – Muhammad’s
teachings, merchant travels, and
initial conflicts spread Islam
throughout Arabian Peninsula
• 632 – 661 CE – The Rashidan
(Four Rightly Guided Caliphs)
spread Islam through conversion
and conquest
• 661 – 750 CE – The Umayyad
Dynasty spread Islam through
merchant contacts and conquest
• 750 – 969 CE – The Abbasid
Dynasty continues to spread
Islam into India and SE Asia

SUNNI
• Believe that the first
four Caliphs were the true
“Rightly Guided”
successors of Muhammad
• Believe that all Muslim
rulers should follow
Muhammad’s examples
• Believe that the
Shari’ah (Islamic Law) is
divine and essential to
maintain Islam
• Claim that the Shi’a
have distorted the
meaning of the Quran
SIMILARITIES OF
THE ISLAMIC FAITH
• THE QURAN (KORAN) IS THE PRIMARY
SOURCE OF THE MUSLIM TENETS OF
FAITH, RITES, AND CONDUCT
• IMAM’S ARE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF
PRAYER AND INTERPRET THE QURAN
SUNNI – SHI’A
SPLIT
632 – 1071 CE
SHI’A
• Believe that Ali (the
Prophet’s Son-in-Law) was
the only Caliph who
rightfully succeeded
Muhammad
• Believe that all Muslim
rulers should be
descendents of Muhammad
• Believe that the Shari’ah
(Islamic Law) were rules that
concern only commoners
• Claim that the Sunni have
distorted the meaning of the
Quran

• Fall of Rome and the Roman Empire
• Rise of Constantinople as a Religious Center
• Eastern and Western Churches evolve
• Latin versus Greek Languages
• Conflicting Church Councils
• Council of Nicea in 325 CE (Created Holy Creed)
• Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE (Confirmed Patriarchs)
• Papal Supremacy versus Patriarchs of Churches
• Muslim conquests of Spain, Anatolia, and Sicily
• Excommunications of 1054 (East and West challenge each other)
• Crusader attack on Constantinople in 1203 during the Fourth Crusade
GREAT SCHISM
325 - 1054 CE

ROMAN CATHOLIC
• Services conducted in Latin
• Pope has authority over all
church clergy
• Pope claims authority over
all monarchs through
coronation
• Religious teachings based
on the Bible & Interpretations
by Church leaders
• Priests may not get married
• Divorce is not permitted
GREAT SCHISM
325 - 1054 CE
SIMILARITIES
• FAITH BASED ON
THE GOSPELS
CONTAINED IN THE
BIBLE
• STRONG BELIEFS IN
THE SEVEN
SACRAMENTS
• PRIESTS AND
BISHOPS ARE THE
LOCAL RELIGIOUS
LEADERS
• THEY SEEK TO
CONVERT PEOPLE TO
THE CHIRSTIAN FAITH
EASTERN ORTHODOX
• Services conducted in Greek,
Russia, or local language
• Patriarch and other Bishops
head the church as a Council of
Clergy
• Emperor claims authority
over the Patriarch and Church
within the Empire
• Religious teachings strictly
from the Bible
• Priests may get married
• Divorce is allowed in certain
situations