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Lessons in Church History

Lesson 10 - ISLAM and THE MIDDLE AGES

(7th-9th Centuries + Fall of Constantinople)


(Ken Guindon)


Introduction

Islam with one billion adherents worldwide competes with Christianity for the hearts and minds of millions in countries from the north of Africa down to its southern tip, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries of SE Asia. Not surprisingly therefore, we turn our attention now to Islam. Why not? Nothing has affected world history and the Church as much as Islam.

Regions and nations such as Algeria, Egypt, Syria and even Israel were once almost totally Christian. North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Persia, Armenia, Turkey, Bulgaria were ripped from the Church's bosom. Even more countries were in danger of being lost. In the 1500s, the Islamic armies were finally stopped in Austria and Europe breathed a sigh of relief.

Several Facts:

There are about 3 million Muslims in the US today with places of worship in many large cities. The followers of Islam are divided into three main groups: Shiites, Sunnites and Sufis, with Sunnites being the largest group. Although Islam allows polygamy it is regulated by their religious laws.


I. REVIEW OF THE STATE OF THE CHRISTIAN ROMAN EMPIRE

A. From Constantine to the 7th Century

East: strong emperor, problems like Persia were far away. In the eastern half of the Empire, the problems were mostly religious: heresies and schisms. Politically the empire was stronger there than in the West. But the East was struggling to preserve its eastern frontiers.

B. West:

The barbarian tribes saw W. Europe as softer, easier to conquer than the Eastern Empire. They came spilling into France, Italy, Spain and down to North Africa, pillaging and establishing themselves in these territories.
No leader was strong enough to unite Europe until the advent of Charlemagne.

C. Strong East, weak West:

But the Roman Empire's control was not as strong in the western part of the Empire. It was in the East that Islam was born, in that part of the Empire where discontent with Constantinople was rife following the Ecumenical Councils of Ephesus (430) and Chalcedon (451).

Whole regions in the East broke away from the rest of Christendom, at first only religiously. These peoples, known as Monophysites and Nestorians, believed they were being faithful to the true faith. We include Egypt here. When the emperor began to impose bishops loyal to the Councils upon these national groups, revolts and riots broke out. The situation was ripe for a deliverer. Such relief arrived with the Muslim conquerors who allowed these Orientals to maintain their particular brand of Christianity.


II. A NEW COMPETITOR ARISES IN THE EMPIRE

A. MOHAMMED 570-632 - Brief chronology of events.

The Prophet Mohammed was the founder of Islam. Born around 570 A.D., he preached faith in one God (Allah). This was perhaps some progress over the animism of the Arab tribes. Mohammed was a member of a clan called Hashimite, one of the poorest in the Quraish tribe. He was orphaned at age six and became a camel herder. He knew poverty, but later improved his lot when working for a rich woman (c.595). He did so well in fact, that she (Khadijah) offered to marry him and so Mohammed became a respected citizen of Mecca. They had two sons (who died early) and four daughters together.

He came to knew something of Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism because he was a trader before he founded Islam. Still, Mohammed didn't know how to read nor write.

Although Mohammed had nine wives, he never had a son to succeed him. This led to a problem of succession and to the splintering of Islam into several branches and factions.

B. The founding of Islam around 610 AD

According to Islamic tradition, when Mohammed was about forty years old he began receiving visits and revelations from the angel Gabriel. He was staying alone on a mountain when the angel came to him. His biographer wrote down what Mohammed recounted: "I awoke from my sleep, and it was as if these words were written in my heart. I came out of the cave and stood on the mountain side. Then I heard a voice calling to me from heaven: `Mohammed, you are God's messenger and I am Gabriel.'" This was his call to become God's prophet.

The messages Mohammed received were later collected and became the Qur'an. It told the people that Allah was merciful and all-powerful.

In 622, Mohammed and his followers were obliged to flee Mecca to escape the wrath of the merchants who rejected his talk of only one God. He and his disciples then fled to the north, to a small village oasis called Yatrib where the people eagerly welcomed him. The name of the village was later changed to Medina, meaning "city of the prophet." True, not all accepted him here, but a majority did. Here in Medina the Moslem practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving began to take shape.

From Medina, they began making razzias (raids) on their neighbors. The Moslems were generous with those whom they conquered and many became Mohammed's followers. The people of the Book (The Scriptures), Jews and Christians and even Zoroastrians, were treated well as long as they submitted and paid tribute to their Moslem rulers.


C. Mecca

Mohammed and his band returned to Mecca in 630. When they entered the city they immediately destroyed all idols and anything that smacked of polytheism. Mecca now became the center of the Islamic faith. Mohammed died there in 632.

Mecca was a commercial center where nomads gathered to buy, barter and sell their wares. You can picture it as a dusty city under the hot desert sun, bustling with activity: buying and selling, yelling, animals bleating or braying, camels, horses, smells, people arriving, others leaving the city.

There was a religious sanctuary in the city before Mohammed arrived. It was called the Ka'ba and it was also a pilgrimage site where the people worshipped a big black stone in the center of the city. The entire district thereabouts was considered sacred.


III. PRINCIPAL IDEAS AND PRACTICES OF ISLAM

A. A continuation of the religion of the Book -

the faith of Abraham and faith in the prophets. Mohammed is said to be the last of God's prophets.

A Moslem eats no pork, drinks no liquor, shuns gambling, adultery and the breaking of his word. He prays five times a day and removes his shoes when entering the mosque. There are no pews in a mosque. His fundamental prayer is: "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful, praise be to God, Lord of the worlds."

It is obligatory to read and study; they say the "ink of the scholar is more precious than the blood of the martyr."

B. POSITIVE POINTS:

Islam put an end to the practice of burying unwanted babies alive, it also regulated and limited polygamy to four wives. We may admit that this was an improvement over current practices in that part of the world. This explains some of its success in Africa and other countries where there is a tradition of polygamy.

C. THE KORAN

This sacred book of Islam was written by the followers of Mohammed. The name comes from an Arabic verb Qara'a: "to recite out loud." The Koran has 114 chapters called suras. The longest chapters are found at the beginning of the book with the shortest ones at the end. Each day the Moslem must read the first verse of the Koran.


D. FIVE PILLARS OF FAITH

1. Recite the Creed.
The testimony of faith, the shahada; "I bear witness that there is no god but God; I bear witness that Mohammed is the Apostle of God." These words constitute the call to prayer from the mosque.
2. Recite prayer 5x a day facing Mecca.
Their community is a worshipping community. Ceremonial washings proceed each time of prayer: dawn, midday, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. This reminds the Muslim that he is a worshipper of God. Moslems pray facing Mecca and they position themselves close together to show they are community.
3. They give tithes to support the poor and to spread their religion.
This third pillar is really social action. The quantity isn't important, it's the inner attitude the quality and the motive for giving that counts. It's also a way to atone for one's sins. It is not a tithe but 2 1/2% of one's cash monies.
4. They are to observe Ramadan, the 9th month of the Muslim calendar, when they fast from daylight to sunset.
This is total abstinence from food and drink during the day. It is a time for reflection, discipline and reconciliation.
5. A once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca. This is called the Hajj or great pilgrimage during the 12th month of the Muslim calendar.

E. Six articles of faith

1. God (Allah) is one. (99 names for God; love isn't one of them.)
2. The Koran is inspired.
3. God's angels are heavenly beings who serve God and oppose the evil spirits
4. God sent prophets to earth, the last of whom is Mohammed.
5. The Day of Judgment is coming when good and evil will be weighed in the balance.
6. The lives and acts of people are known to God.

F. Worship

Each Moslem is considered to be a servant of God. The word Moslem or Muslim means one who lives his life according to God's will. Islam means "submission to God." The religion embraces every aspect of life. If someone wants to submit and embrace Islam, he need only say: "I bear witness that there is no god but God; I bear witness that Mohammed is the Apostle of God." These are the same words that will be said to a child when he is born and the last words spoken to him as he dies.

G. Political organization of their vast empire

The raids from Medina were very successful. When Mohammed died there was already a type of federation of tribes and clans that had received his message. The head of this federation was called the Caliph (Khalifa). The Persian and the Byzantine empires were exhausted from their struggles to dominant the East. The Islamic armies swept across these Eastern areas overcoming all opposition. They would establish new forward camps, and so were able to continue advancing, increasing the area they controlled. Just twelve years after Mohammed's death, they already occupied Egypt, Syria and Iraq, and were advancing like oil on water both eastward and westward.

The conquered peoples were considered "protected" and were allowed to govern themselves as long as they paid the tax. Remember that after the various schisms in the eastern part of the Church, those "Christian" peoples were happy to be free of an Emperor whom they often considered a heretic or an oppressor. This is one reason why these territories often submitted without a real fight.


IV. ISLAMIC CONQUESTS

A. Progress of the armies

- Damascus fell in 635,
- Jerusalem in 637 or 638,
- Alexandria fell in 642.
About 650 Syria and part of Asia Minor and upper Mesopo-tamia, Palestine, Egypt and part of the Byzantine provinces in North Africa were all under Arab influence.

In the 700's the Moslem armies were invading and conquering all of northern Africa and had subjected Spain and southern France. Even though they made raids into the territories around Constantinople they were not yet able to hold on to those territories at this time. Later, they would return.

B. 800 1300, a period of stagnation

1300 - 1500 Turks and Mongols converted; they invade Western Europe.

C. The Fall of Constantinople in 1543

April 5, 1543 the Greeks woke up to see 200,000 Turkish troops outside their walls. The number soon increased to 500,000. Their leader, Mahomet II, was only 23 years old. He was able to put 493 ships into position against the Greeks 15, 10 of which belonged to Italians.

Constantinople was defended by 2 parallel walls; the inner one was fortified with 112 great square towers. They had put in place a great chain made of large rounded logs fastened with iron hooks to protect the walls on the side towards the harbor. This chain was famous. But the Turks had a great cannon called "The Royal One." It took one hundred pairs of oxen to haul it from place to place. It hurled 1,500 lb. projectiles at the walls. It had been made by a Hungarian Christian who formerly worked for Byzantium.

After one week the walls were pierced. On April 18, the Sultan launched the final attack. The Greeks met it and held out winning great battles. On 23rd April when they awoke, they saw ships at anchor beneath the walls. On 27 May, the Moslems were thinking of withdrawing when it was decided to try again. On this day the Second Rome fell, never to rise again.

After the fall of Constantinople the people were constantly oppressed, persecuted and discriminated against, until today there are not more than 10,000 Greek Orthodox in Turkey.

D. Consequences for the Christians

In less than 100 years the Moslems had an empire greater than the old Roman Empire, and it had all been Christian. In Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania, Christianity was wiped out.

Before ending this lesson, we need to find out what was happening in Europe. What was the state of the former Roman empire where Christianity was flourishing?


IV. BIRTH OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE IN EUROPE

A. The Dark or Middle Ages (600-1200)

1. Two factors influenced this period:

a) The disappearance of the Roman Empire in the West;
Italy, France and Spain were subjected to wars and destruction.
b) A new civilization was born: a Greco-Roman-Frankish culture.

2. Out of this period, often called "The Dark Ages" will arise:

a) new nations,
b) a new Christian Empire,
c) feudal Europe and Christendom.

3. Several positive points for this period:

a) The spread of monasteries where the monks preserved learning and manuscripts; the monasteries served as havens of rest and care for the sick.
b) Missions in: England, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia and Yugoslavia.


B. Birth of the Holy Roman Empire

During the time when the semi-barbarian (and Arian) Lombards were threatening northern Italy and Rome, Pope Stephen [II] III (752-757) began a long and hazardous journey through the Alps in the dead of winter to visit Pepin, the King of France. The trip would last a whole year. An 11 year old boy also made the trip, his name was Charles and he would become the future emperor, Charles the Great or Charlemagne.

When Pope Stephen arrived in Paris, he and Pepin concluded a treaty (754) which would have a lasting influence on the Papacy. It is called the "Treaty of Quercy." The King of France promised to defend the Church (reason why France is called the "eldest daughter of the Church") and he promised to restore to the pope the Byzantine territories held by the Lombards in northern Italy.

The king did what he promised. In 756, in a battle with Aistulf, the Lombard king, Pepin was victorious and he gave to the pope the lands he won in battle. This is called the Donation of Pepin and marks the beginning of the Papal States.

C. Results:

1. The popes would become feudal lords, competing with other lords and princes.
2. This donation was bitterly contested by the Byzantine Emperors who claimed these territories.
3. The division between East and West worsened:
Several emperors were iconoclasts (icon-breakers); the Franks rejected them as heretics and consequently their claims to these areas. Issues such as papal primacy and the Filioque provoked more tensions.
4. Pope Leo III (795-816) crowned Pepin's son, Charles (Charlemagne), emperor of the Holy Roman Empire on Christmas Day in 800 AD. We now have TWO competing Empires.

D. Charlemagne, Emperor

Has been compared with Constantine the Great as a builder of Christendom. The Holy Roman Empire would last 1,000 yrs. until 1806.


V. EUROPEAN FEUDALISM

A. Consequences of Charlemagne's death (Jan. 814)

1. The unity was now broken by struggles for succession and Charlemagne's empire wound up divided into three parts: France, Germany and Italy, with no strong central power.
2. This gave rise to feudalism, a system whereby society was stratified like a pyramid with the king at the top and the serfs, bound to the land, at the bottom. In between, were the lords, barons, dukes, counts, and knights. Everyone was tied to everyone else by oaths and contracts. This same system would become increasingly evident in the religious domain in Europe.

B. Rome and the papacy

Each Roman noble family vied to seat a member of its family on the papal throne.
The popes had a hard time avoiding the consequences of being aristocrats with many interests and occupations, not the least of which was making war and jockeying for power with the kings of Europe. The rulers of France and Germany all sought to influence the pope and oblige him to take their side as they competed with one another for power and territory.

We leave now a very interesting period that saw the birth of a new religion (Islam), the papal states and another "Roman" Empire in the West. In the next and final lesson, we will look at the European history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Marc (Ken) Guindon's personal website

Parrish Website--Eastern Orthodox Church--Birmingham, Alabama

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