Sunni-Shia Split


 * Major split in the Islam faith.
 * Emerges directly after the death of Muhammed.
 * Because there is nobody who can replace the final prophet of God.
 * Arabs elect 4 different people for sucession, the "Caliphs"
 * Lead the conquests of teritories outside of the peninsula.
 * Significant minority of muslims who don't want these Caliphs to be their leaders
 * They believe that Muhammad can only be succeeded by a relative.
 * The division grows over time.
 * People who want to rebel against the authorities often switch to Shia islam.
 * Heartland of Shia Islam was southern Mesopotamia (southern Iraq and Kuwait)