[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.58,0:00:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John: Hi, there I'm John Green.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.68,0:00:06.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Crash Course World History,\Nand today we're gonna talk about Islam,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.61,0:00:08.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which like Christianity and Judaism,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.37,0:00:10.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,grew up on the east coast\Nof the Mediterranean,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.40,0:00:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but unlike Christianity and Judaism,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.20,0:00:14.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not terribly well\Nunderstood in the West.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.73,0:00:18.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For instance, you probably know\Nwhat this is and what this is.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.57,0:00:22.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You probably don't know\Nwhat that is. Google it.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.08,0:00:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mr. Green, Mr. Green, why do you think
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.82,0:00:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people know so little\Nabout Islamic history?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.78,0:00:29.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you just ask an interesting,\Nnon-annoying question, me from the past?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.58,0:00:32.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think we don't know much\Nabout early Islamic history
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.09,0:00:34.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we don't learn about\Nit, because we're taught
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.59,0:00:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our history is the story\Nof Christianity in Europe,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.28,0:00:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when in fact, our history is the\Nstory of people on the planet.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.22,0:00:44.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, let's try to learn something today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.83,0:00:53.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(upbeat music with whistling)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.68,0:00:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in less than 200 years,\NIslam went from not existing
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.94,0:00:59.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to being the religious and\Npolitical organizing principle
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.79,0:01:02.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of one of the largest\Nempires in the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.38,0:01:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that story begins\Nin the 7th century CE,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.59,0:01:08.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the angel Gabriel appeared\Nto Muhammad, a 40-ish guy,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.01,0:01:09.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who made his living as a caravan trader,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.59,0:01:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and told him to begin\Nreciting the word of God.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.61,0:01:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Initially, this freaked\NMuhammad out as, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.08,0:01:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would, but then his wife\Nand a couple other people
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.17,0:01:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,encouraged him and slowly he came\Nto accept the mantle of prophet.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.84,0:01:22.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A few things to know about\Nthe world Islam entered,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.49,0:01:25.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,first, Muhammad's society\Nwas intensely tribal.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.15,0:01:27.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was a member of the\NQuraysh tribe living in Mecca,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.85,0:01:30.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tribal ties were extremely important.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.81,0:01:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, at the time the Arabian Peninsula
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.54,0:01:34.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was like this crazy,\Nreligious, melting pot.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.82,0:01:36.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like most tribal Arabs worshiped gods
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.73,0:01:41.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very similar to the Mesopotamian\Ngods you'll remember from episode 3,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.41,0:01:43.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by the time of Muhammad, cult\Nstatues of many of those gods
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.62,0:01:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been collected in\Nhis home town of Mecca
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.16,0:01:48.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this temple-like\Nstructure, called the Kaaba.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.75,0:01:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, Arabia was also home to monotheisms\Nlike Christianity and Judaism,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.92,0:01:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even a bit of Zoroastrainism;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.56,0:01:56.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the message that there was only one god
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.21,0:01:59.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wouldn't have been like\Nas surprising to Muhammad
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.08,0:02:01.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it was, for instance, to Abraham.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.06,0:02:02.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, and this will become very important,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.49,0:02:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the northern part of Arabia was\Nsandwiched between the Byzantine Empire
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.67,0:02:08.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Persian Sasanian\NEmpire, and you'll remember
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.85,0:02:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those guys were always fighting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.06,0:02:13.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were like snow boarders and skiers,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.40,0:02:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or like the Westboro Baptist\NChurch and everyone else.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.02,0:02:19.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At its core, Islam is what we\Ncall a radical reforming religion,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.87,0:02:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just as Jesus and Moses sought\Nto restore Abrahamic monotheism
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.64,0:02:27.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after what they perceived as\Nstraying, so too did Muhammad.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.21,0:02:29.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Muslims believe that God sent\NMuhammad as the final prophet
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.64,0:02:33.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to bring people back to\Nthe one true religion,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.36,0:02:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which involves the worship\Nof and submission to a\Nsingle and all-powerful God.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.88,0:02:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Koran also acknowledges Abraham,\Nand Moses, and Jesus, among others,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.98,0:02:44.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as prophets, but it's very different\Nfrom the Hebrew and Christian Bibles.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.22,0:02:45.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one thing, it's much\Nless narrative, but also,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.85,0:02:48.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the written record of the\Nrevelations Muhammad received,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.61,0:02:51.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means it's not written\Nfrom the point of view of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.55,0:02:54.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is seen as the actual word of God.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.07,0:02:55.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Koran is a really broad-ranging text,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.81,0:02:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it returns, again and\Nagain, to a couple of themes;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.80,0:03:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one is strict monotheism, and the\Nother is the importance of taking care
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.17,0:03:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of those less fortunate than you.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.06,0:03:07.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Koran says of the good\Nperson, "Spends his substance,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.09,0:03:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"however much he himself may\Ncherish it, upon his near of kin,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.46,0:03:13.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the orphans, and the needy,\Nand the wayfarer, and the beggars,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.89,0:03:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"and for the freeing of\Nhuman beings from bondage."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.66,0:03:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These revelations also radically\Nincrease the rights of women and orphans,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.27,0:03:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is one of the reasons\Nthat Muhammad's tribal leaders
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.64,0:03:24.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,weren't that psyched about them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.32,0:03:25.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(digital sounds)\NTo talk more about
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.36,0:03:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Islamic faith and practice,\Nlet's go to the thought bubble.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.16,0:03:30.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The five pillars of Islam are the\Nbasic acts considered obligatory,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.05,0:03:31.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least by Sunni Muslims.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.55,0:03:34.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First is the Shahadah, or\Nthe profession of faith.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.06,0:03:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is no God, but God, and\NMuhammad is God's prophet,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.44,0:03:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is sometimes translated\Nas there is no God but Allah,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.35,0:03:43.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Muhammad is Allah's prophet, which\Ntries to make Muslims sound other,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.65,0:03:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ignores the fact that\Nthe Arabic word for God,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.05,0:03:49.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether you're Christian or\NJewish or Muslim, is Allah.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.01,0:03:51.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Second, Salat, or ritual\Nprayer five times a day,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.91,0:03:56.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at dawn, noon, afternoon,\Nsunset, and late evening,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.27,0:03:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are obligatory unless\Nyou haven't hit puberty,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.96,0:04:01.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are too sick, or are menstruating.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.18,0:04:03.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keep it PG, thought bubble.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.15,0:04:05.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Third, Sawm, the month-long fast\Nduring the month of Ramadan,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.70,0:04:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which Muslims do not eat or drink or\Nsmoke cigarettes during daylight hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.75,0:04:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since Ramadan is a lunar calendar\Nmonth, it moves around the seasons,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.50,0:04:16.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and obviously, it's most fun during\Nthe winter when the days are shorter,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.94,0:04:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and least fun during the summer\Nwhen days are both long and hot.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.50,0:04:23.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fourth is Zakat, or alms giving,\Nin which non-poor Muslims
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.97,0:04:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are required to give a percentage\Nof their income to the poor.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.82,0:04:30.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And lastly, Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.17,0:04:33.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Muslims must try to fulfill\Nat least once in their lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.18,0:04:35.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provided they are healthy\Nand have enough money.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.39,0:04:37.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also more to understanding\NIslam than just knowing the Koran,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.70,0:04:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Judaism, with its tall mood,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.80,0:04:43.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Christianity with its lives of\Nsaints and writings of church fathers,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.03,0:04:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Islam has supplementary sacred texts,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.82,0:04:49.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chief among which is the\NHadith, a collection of sayings
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.11,0:04:52.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and stories about the prophet.\NThanks, thought bubble.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.10,0:04:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, it's time for the open letter?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.35,0:04:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(instrumental harp)\NMagic.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.56,0:04:59.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An open letter to the 72 virgins.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.50,0:05:01.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, but first, let's check\Nwhat's in the secret compartment.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.71,0:05:05.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, it's Andre the Giant. Did\Nyou know that Andre the Giant
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.96,0:05:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,died a virgin is a fact that I made up?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.92,0:05:11.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dear 72 virgins, hey\Nthere. It's me, John Green.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.74,0:05:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you know that not all\Nhadiths were created equal?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.20,0:05:16.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some sayings of the prophet\Nare really well sourced,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.56,0:05:20.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like for instance, a good friend or a\Nrelative heard the prophet say something,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.66,0:05:22.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then it ended up as a hadith.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.55,0:05:24.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, some hadiths are terribly\Nsourced, like not to be a reverend;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.55,0:05:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but some of it is like\Nmiddle school gossip,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.65,0:05:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Rachel told Rebekah that\Nher sister's brother's friend
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.06,0:05:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kissed Justin Bieber on the face.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.61,0:05:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the vast majority of Muslims
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.70,0:05:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't treat terribly sourced\Nhadiths as scripture,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.90,0:05:39.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the idea that you go heaven and\Nget 72 virgins is not in the Koran,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.50,0:05:41.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's in a terribly sourced hadith,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.15,0:05:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it is my great regret\Nto inform you, 72 virgins,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.58,0:05:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that in the eyes of almost\Nall Muslims, you do not exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.56,0:05:50.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Best wishes, John Green.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.50,0:05:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One more thing about Islam,\Nlike Christianity and\NJudaism, it has a body of law.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.51,0:05:57.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You might have heard of\Nit, it's called Sharia;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.06,0:05:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although we tend to think of\NSharia as a single set of laws
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.44,0:06:02.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all Muslims follow.\NThat's ridiculous.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.11,0:06:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are numerous competing\Nideas about Sharia,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.66,0:06:07.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just as there are within\Nany legal tradition.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.09,0:06:09.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, people who embrace this\Nworld view were called Muslims,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.30,0:06:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they submitted to the will of God,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.14,0:06:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they became part of the\NUmmah, or community of believers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.62,0:06:16.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This would be a good moment\Nfor an Uma Therman joke,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.61,0:06:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but sadly, she is no longer famous.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.56,0:06:21.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm sorry if you're\Nwatching this, Uma Therman.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.61,0:06:23.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being part of the Ummah\Ntrumped all other ties,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.49,0:06:26.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including tribal ties, which\Ngot Muhammad into some trouble
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.93,0:06:29.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and brings us, at last, back to history.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.57,0:06:31.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, as Muhammad's following in Mecca grew,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.31,0:06:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Ummah aroused the suspicion
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.82,0:06:35.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the most powerful tribe\Nin Mecca, the Quraysh.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.13,0:06:38.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it didn't matter that Muhammad\Nhimself was born into the Quraysh tribe,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.04,0:06:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because he wouldn't shut up\Nabout how there was only one God,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.08,0:06:43.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was really bad\Nnews to the Quraysh tribe
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.17,0:06:46.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they managed the\Npilgrimage trade in Mecca,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.64,0:06:50.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if all those gods were false,\Nit would be a disaster economically.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.92,0:06:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although, come to think of it, in the end
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.58,0:06:55.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Meccan pilgrimage\Nbusiness turned out just fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.10,0:06:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the Quraysh forced Muhammad and\Nhis followers out of Mecca in 622 CE,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.24,0:07:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they headed to Yathrib,\Nalso known as Medina.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.17,0:07:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This journey, also known as\Nthe Hijrah, is so important
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.78,0:07:07.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it marks year 0 in\Nthe Islamic calendar.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.37,0:07:09.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Medina, Muhammad severed\Nthe religion's ties to Judaism,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.96,0:07:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turning the focus of prayer\Naway from Jerusalem to Mecca.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.92,0:07:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, in Medina, the Islamic\Ncommunity started to look a lot more
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.17,0:07:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a small empire than like a church.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.24,0:07:21.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, Jesus never had a country to run,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.38,0:07:23.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but Muhammad did almost\Nfrom the beginning,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.22,0:07:26.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in addition to being an important\Nprophet, he was a good general,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.27,0:07:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in 630, the Islamic\Ncommunity took back Mecca.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.77,0:07:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They destroyed all those\Nidols in the Kaaba,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.63,0:07:33.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and soon Islam was as\Npowerful a political force
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.89,0:07:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the region as it was a religious one;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.90,0:07:38.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's because the political and\Nreligious coexisted from the beginning,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.86,0:07:41.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there's no separate tradition\Nof civic and religious law
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.63,0:07:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like there is in Christianity and Judaism.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.94,0:07:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, then when Muhammad died in 632 CE,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.24,0:07:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there wasn't a religious\Nvacuum left behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.45,0:07:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Muhammad was the final prophet, the\Nrevelation of the Koran would continue
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.74,0:07:55.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to guide the Ummah throughout their lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.44,0:07:57.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the community did need a\Npolitical leader, a caliph,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.71,0:08:01.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the first caliph was Abu\NBakr, Muhammad's father-in-law,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.51,0:08:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is not without his opponents.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.63,0:08:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many people wanted Ali, Muhammad's\Nson-in-law to lead the community,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.64,0:08:10.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and although he did become the fourth\Ncaliph, that initial disagreement,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.50,0:08:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to radically over-simplify it\Nbecause we only have 10 minutes,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.14,0:08:17.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,began the divide between the two\Nmajor sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.76,0:08:19.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even today, Sunni Musilims believe
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.30,0:08:21.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abu Bakr was rightly\Nelected the first caliph,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.71,0:08:24.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Shia Muslims believe\Nit should have been Ali.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.15,0:08:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To Sunnis, the first fourth caliphs,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.89,0:08:30.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali are\Nknown as the rightly guided caliphs.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.35,0:08:33.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In many of the conservative\Nmovements in the Islamic world today,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.52,0:08:38.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are all about trying to restore the\NIslamic world to those glory days,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.23,0:08:42.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which like most glory days,\Nwere not unambiguously glorious.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.46,0:08:44.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abu Bakr stabilized the\Ncommunity after Muhammad's death
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.90,0:08:47.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and began the process of\Nrecording the Koran in writing,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.51,0:08:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and started the military campaigns against\Nthe Byzantine and Sasanian empires,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.94,0:08:53.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that within 116 years would allow
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.54,0:08:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Islamic Empire to\Ngo from this, to this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.75,0:09:00.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His successor, Umar, was both\Nand uncommonly good general
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.09,0:09:03.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a brilliant administrator,\Nbut like so many other great men,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.58,0:09:06.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he proved terrible at\Navoiding assassination,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.76,0:09:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which gated the caliphate of\NUthman, who standardized the Koran
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.36,0:09:12.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and continued both his\Npredecessor's tradition of conquest
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.37,0:09:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his predecessor's tradition\Nof getting assassinated.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.28,0:09:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, Ali finally got his turn as caliph,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.45,0:09:20.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but his ascension was very controversial\Nand it ultimately led to a civil war,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.88,0:09:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which eventually led to the emergence\Nof Uthman's tribe, the Umayyads,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.82,0:09:25.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the dynasty that would rule over
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.43,0:09:28.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an ever-expanding Islamic\NEmpire for more than 100 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.79,0:09:30.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's common to hear that\Nin these early years,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.13,0:09:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Islam quotes spread by the sword, and\Nthat's partly true, unless you are ...
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.28,0:09:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wait for it: The Mongols.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.54,0:09:38.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(classic movie audio)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.93,0:09:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actually, as usual, the\Ntruth is more complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.02,0:09:42.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many people, including the Mongols,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.88,0:09:45.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also including lots of\Npeople in Central and East Asia,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.54,0:09:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,embraced Islam without\Nany military campaigns;
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.31,0:09:51.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in fact, the Koran says that religion\Nmust not be an act of compulsion,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.91,0:09:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this much is true, the early Islamic\NEmpire was really good at winning wars.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.92,0:09:59.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And situated, as they were\Nbetween two very wealthy empires,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.95,0:10:02.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Byzantines and the Sasanians,\Nthere was plenty to fight for.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.82,0:10:06.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first to fall with the Sasanians,\Nthe last non-Muslim successor
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.12,0:10:09.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the Persian Empire, they\Nwere relatively easy pickings
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.13,0:10:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they had been fighting\Nthe Byzantines for like 300 years
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.34,0:10:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were super tired, also they\Nhad recently been struck by plague.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.46,0:10:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plague, man, I'm telling you, it's\Nlike the red tortoise shell of history.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.68,0:10:21.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(slow descending whistle)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.18,0:10:24.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, in those early days, they did\Npry away some valuable territory
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.20,0:10:27.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Egypt, and the Holy Land, and\Nthen eventually, they got into Spain,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.53,0:10:29.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where various Muslim dynasties\Nwould entrench themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.80,0:10:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until being expelled in 1492.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.24,0:10:33.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as good as they were at making war,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.97,0:10:36.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it still tempting to chalk\Nup the Arab success to,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.71,0:10:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, the will of God.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.42,0:10:40.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And certainly, a lot of the people\Nthey conquered felt that way.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.88,0:10:44.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wars in this part of the world didn't\Njust pit people against each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.61,0:10:47.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they also pitted their\Ngods against each other;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.47,0:10:50.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so, while the Islamic Empire didn't\Nrequire its subjects to convert to Islam,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.90,0:10:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their stunning successes certainly\Nconvinced a lot of people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.13,0:10:56.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this monotheism thing was legit.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.34,0:11:01.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once again, John Green, proving super\Nhip to the slang of today's young'uns.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.41,0:11:05.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, you paid lower taxes if you\Nconverted, and just as taxes on cigarettes
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.70,0:11:07.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lead to people not wanting to smoke,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.74,0:11:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,taxes on worshiping your\Nidols lead to people
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.07,0:11:12.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not wanting to worship them many more.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.13,0:11:14.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in a period of time that\Nwas, historically speaking,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.34,0:11:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both remarkably recent\Nand remarkably short,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.76,0:11:19.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a small group of people\Nfrom an area of the world
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.07,0:11:23.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with no natural resources\Nmanaged to create one of the\Ngreat empires of the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.84,0:11:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also one of its great religions;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.64,0:11:28.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that very fact may be why\Npeople of Western European decent
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.21,0:11:30.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remain largely ignorant about this period,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.75,0:11:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only with the Muslims great\Nconquers, they spawned an explosion
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.81,0:11:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of trade and learning that\Nlasted hundreds of years.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.43,0:11:39.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They saved many of the classic texts\Nthat form the basis of the so-called
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.43,0:11:42.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Western Canon, while\NEurope was ignoring them,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.22,0:11:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they paved the way\Nfor the Renaissance.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.98,0:11:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While it's important to\Nremember that much of the world
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.06,0:11:48.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between Spain and the Indus\NRiver wasn't Arabized,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.73,0:11:52.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most of it was so thoroughly Islamised\Nthat these days we can't think
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.39,0:11:56.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the world we now call the Middle\NEast without thinking of it as Islamic.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.45,0:11:58.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like perhaps, the greatest\Ntestimony to Islam's power
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.63,0:12:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to organize peoples' lives\Nand their communities
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.89,0:12:03.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that in Egypt, five times a day,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.21,0:12:07.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,millions of people turn away from\Nthe pyramids, and toward Mecca.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.79,0:12:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Egypt, birth place to one of\Nthe longest continuous cultures
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.87,0:12:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the world has ever known, is now the\Nlargest Arab country in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.98,0:12:16.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Next week, we'll talk about the dark ages.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.74,0:12:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spoiler alert:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.72,0:12:19.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were darkest in the evening.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.03,0:12:20.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks for watching, and\Nwe'll see you next time.