Chapter 9: The Worlds of Islam

I found very interesting how the Arab empire was made. The new Arab state became a huge empire, encompassing all or part of Egyptian, Roman/ Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian, and Indian civilizations. There faith, culture, and language began to spread out of the empire. Because there was a mixing/blending of people this caused a third- wave civilization. They were bound by their faith but divided by culture, class, politics, and religious understanding. After Muhammad's death in 632, the Arab empire began to govern most of Europe and China. The Quran viewed women as inferior to men. The Quran gave women both restrictions but also protection. It is interesting that men were limited to four wives, and had to treat each one equally. Did this mean that they could be married to all four at once? It did not really seem that women really have to much protection because they were seen as week.