Life and Death of Muhammad
What city was Muhammad born in?
Mecca
What does the title “Caliph” mean?
Successor to Muhammad
What language became the language of learning across the Islamic world?
Arabic
What empire conquered Constantinople in 1453?
The Ottoman Empire
What were the Crusades?
Religious wars between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land.
What is the name of the holy book revealed to Muhammad?
The Qur’an (or Koran)
Who was the first Caliph after Muhammad’s death?
Abu Bakr
What type of art did Muslim artists avoid and what did they focus on instead?
They avoided human images and used geometric designs and calligraphy
What city became the capital of the Abbasid Empire and a center of learning during the Golden Age of Islam?
Baghdad
What was the main goal of European Crusaders?
To capture Jerusalem and other holy sites from Muslim control/spread Christianity/Protect Europe
What event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar?
The Hijra (Muhammad’s move from Mecca to Medina)
What was the role of the Caliphs?
Political and Religious leader
What was one reason learning and scholarship flourished under Muslim rule?
Rulers supported scholars and built libraries and universities
Why is the Abbasid period often called a “Golden Age”?
Because of great achievements in science, art, trade, and education under strong leadership and peace
What was the Reconquista?
The Christian reconquest of Muslim Spain.
What is the term for Muhammad’s journey to heaven and back?
The Night Journey (Isra and Mi’raj)
What caused the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims?
Disagreement over who should succeed Muhammad as leader.
Why did Muslims translate Greek, Persian, and Indian texts into Arabic?
To preserve knowledge and build on earlier scientific discoveries
The Seljuk Turks
How did Muslim leaders like Salah al-Din (salad) change the course of the Crusades?
He united Muslim forces and recaptured Jerusalem
Why did the Meccans oppose Muhammad’s message at first?
It threatened their wealth and traditional beliefs based on polytheism.
Who was the fourth Caliph and also Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law?
Ali
What was the purpose of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad?
A center for learning, translation, and preservation of knowledge.
What were the 3 'Gunpowder Empires' that sprung up after the end of the Crusades and fall of the Mongols?
The Safavids, the Mughals and the Ottomans
What were some effects of the Crusades on Europe and the Islamic world?
Increased trade, cultural exchange, and lasting tension between religions.