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Continuity and Change: Spread of Islam in the Post Classical Period

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Continuity and Change: Spread of Islam in the Post Classical Period
Tamara Sevilla
AP World History Essay

Continuity and change: The Post Classical Period spread of Islam

The Sassanid Empire served as the revival of the Persian Empire from 244-651 C.E., Persian traditions had endured during this time period and kinships as well as Zoroastrian religion were part of their everyday life. Bedouin or nomadic societies inhabited the Arabian Peninsula as well, with a culture based on goat and camel herding. However, life styles and interactions changed with the introduction of Islam in the Post Classical period. In the 7th century Islam began a series of conquest and conversions, making their potential to become the first truly global civilization unstoppable. Once the Muslim raids began in India in 711 C.E. Islam’s influence changed the Hindu way of life and cultural unity between these and other civilizations began. The introduction of Islam to the Middle East and India from 622-1450 C.E. brought cultural, political, and economic continuities and changes to these societies. Cultural and economic continuities included architecture and the growth of a strong trading system; however, there were changes in political systems from kinships and Persian influence to religious based kingdoms and rulers.
Cultural unity became one of the leading characteristics of the Empire. Architecture was one of the ideas that spread throughout the continents as well. Not only did it reach India and Africa, but the European continent as well. The mosque is a place of worship for those who follow the Islam faith. The first mosque to be built was the Quba Mosque in Medina, which was built when Muhammad arrived from the hijra back in 630 C.E. After the construction of the first mosque the idea of a place for worship spread. The first mosques had dome shaped roofs and minarets to call people for prayer. As these ideas spread they became continuous in different societies as they adopted the same architectural techniques. As Islam spread, and architecture spread

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