Political and Imperial History
In 600 CE, the northern portion of the Middle East was dominated by these two major empires.
What are the Christian Byzantine Empire and the Zoroastrian Sassanid Persian Empire?
Islam recognizes Christians and Jews by this term, acknowledging their shared Abrahamic origins and common scripture traditions.
What are the "People of the Book"?
The introduction of this animal, often called the "ship of the desert," made regular long-distance trade across the Sahara possible.
What is the camel?
The expectation that all believers read the Quran helped promote widespread literacy in this universal language.
What is Arabic?
This 14th-century Moroccan scholar traveled across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, recording his extensive observations in a famous travel journal.
Who is Ibn Battuta?
This ruler made a famous 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca, giving away so much gold along the way that he temporarily inflated the regional economy.
Who is Mansa Musa?
This body of Islamic law regulates moral conduct, family life, business practices, and community affairs based on the Quran and Hadith.
What is Shari Law?
Arab dhows were equipped with this triangular feature, which greatly increased ship maneuverability and allowed sailing against the wind.
What is a lateen sail?
These religious colleges served as the centers of intellectual development where scholars studied many different disciplines of learning.
What are madrasas?
Christianity developed directly out of this earlier monotheistic religion.
What is Judaism?
Located in Mecca, this sacred site was an important shrine housing religious idols before Muhammad converted it to a holy site for Islam.
What is the Ka'ba?
Following the death of Muhammad, the political and religious leaders who succeeded him held this title.
What is Caliph?
Ivory, gold, and enslaved people were primary commodities exported into these trade networks from this continent.
What is Africa?
Name two of the major Islamic cities that became historical "university towns."
What are Baghdad, Damascus, Cordoba, or Timbuktu? (Any two)
Islam developed out of these two earlier monotheistic traditions.
What are Judaism and Christianity?
This holy book of Islam contains the compiled recitations and revelations received by Muhammad from the Angel Gabriel.
What is the Quran?
The major division between Sunni and Shia Muslims originally formed over this core debate.
What is the selection/succession of the Caliph (who should lead the Muslim community)?
The adoption of this Chinese manufacturing technology enabled the Islamic world to establish vast libraries and preserve knowledge at a massive scale.
What is papermaking technology?
These luxury woven materials, produced across European looms, were key trade goods shipped eastward along Afro-Eurasian trade routes.
What are wool and linen?
Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam developed in succession, they are collectively recognized for sharing this type of common heritage.
What is an Abrahamic heritage?
This ruler made a famous 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca, giving away so much gold along the way that he temporarily inflated the regional economy.
Who is Mansa Musa?
This dynasty moved the Islamic capital to Damascus and expanded the empire into North Africa and Spain.
What is the Umayyad Caliphate?
Islamic scholars refined this explosive Chinese invention, which later revolutionized warfare and fueled the rise of major empires.
What is gunpowder?
European trade along these network routes heavily relied on exporting this valuable mineral commodity, used both for coinage and jewelry.
What is silver?
Name two of the key shared religious features among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that stem from their common heritage.
What is monotheism and a belief in shared prophets?