April 26
~ 570 - Muhammed - Invented Islam ~
Little "Mu" was born in the town of Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula, where Saudi Arabia is located today. The desert enviroment was harsh, and the region was relatively isolated from the rest of the world. Many religions were present in the region, including Christianity and Judaism. Ongoing tribal warfare was prevalent, along with the belief in supernatural beings--angels, demons, and mystical creatures called jinns. Europe and parts of the Middle East were entering what is known as the Dark Ages, the chaotic years after the fall of the Roman Empire. As Europe through the centuries began moving toward what we know as the Renaissance, the Arabs on the Arabian Peninsula seemed frozen in the seventh century.
The boy Muhammad entered into frequent trances, which one of his nurses attributed to demon possession. ( I should note that little Mu's mother gave him away to a nurse to raise for the first three to four years after being born.) He suffered repeated tragedies as his mother, father, and grandfather died, leaving him to be raised by his uncle. He received no formal education, was illiterate, unable to read or write.
* note...if you are interested in hearing anymore of this "unbelievable saga", say so and I will continue with it tomorrow ~ SP ~