Revelations in the Desert
Word meaning “Submission”. Submission to Allah, and to Muhammad, the Last Prophet. Considers the Surahs (books) of the Koran to be the final revelation of God, believing that Christianity was corrupted and subverted by Satan.
Islam
Known as “The Hammer”. Known for using a Bardiche (Double Headed) Axe. Was a Mayor of the Palace who led an expedition of Christian Franks against Muslim Umayyads at the Battle of Tours.
Charles Martel
The first French Language Epic written during the time of Charles the Great. Commemorated the fighting retreat at the Battle of Ronceveaux, and the heroic last stand of the 12 Paladins. Became one of the most popular stories of its day, and was the foundation of a culture of Chivalry and Knighthood in Western Europe
The Song of Roland
What is Feudalism?
The system of governance enacted by Charles the Great to administer the Carolingian Empire through local lords, vassals, and fealty.
The first recognized attack on England by Norse Raiders (called Vikingr). Initiated the Viking Age as a retaliation for the Frankish-Saxon war in the early 9th Century.
The Raid on Lindesfarne
Describe the Abbasid Revolution
747 - 750 AD. Originating in Central Asia (Khartom), spread into Persia and Iraq, destabilizing the Umayyads who fled west to Iberia.
Usually entered into when neither party could prove guilt or innocence. The Plaintiff and Defendant would then fight a Judicial Duel. It was believed that God would empower the honest combatant, and the winner would have had God’s help.
Trial by Combat
Believer, or ‘One who submits to God’. A follower of Muhammad and Islam. Also called Muhammadeans or Saracens, meaning the ‘Destitute of Sarah’ in reference to the Ishmaelites.
Muslim
A ‘Palatine Guard’ of Charles the Great. A semi-professional Cavalryman who fought with lance, spear, sword, axe, and dagger. Also known as Chevaliers, became the archetype for Knighthood based on the Oath of Fealty they gave to the King.
Paladin
Convened by Emp. St Constantine IV The New in 680 AD.Addressed the question of Christ’s Wills (Monotheletism vs Dyothelitism) and Christ’s Energies (Monoenergism vs Dyoenergism). Council determined that Christ had 2 Energies and 2 Wills.
3rd Council of Constantinople (6th Ecumenical Council)
The final Iconoclastic period, 814 - 843 AD. 3 Eastern Roman Emperors anathematised themselves by instituting Iconoclasm in the Empire despite the ruling of the 7th Ecumenical Council. The death of Emp Theophilos in 842 AD left his widow, Empress Theodora the Armenian in charge. Immediately proclaims an end to Iconoclams, and processes the Icon of the Theotokos and many others through Constantinople. One of the Great Feasts of Orthodoxy.
Triumph of Orthodoxy
Describe the Umayyad Caliphate
661 AD - 750 AD. The Second Caliphate after the overthrow of the Rashidun Caliphs. Mu’awiya I Umayyad became the first Dynastic Caliph after winning the 1st Fitna (Civil War). Capital: Damascus
Built in 762 AD to be the new capital of the Abbasid Caliphate by Al-Mansur, the founder of the Abbassids. A circular city built between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Constructed based on Muhammad’s description of paradise. One of the world’s largest cities until its obliteration by the Mongols in 1258 AD under the Christian, Khan Hulegu.
Baghdad
Usually entered at the request of an accused. The offender is given a public service task that varied based on the severity of the crime, usually to fight a public menace (animals, thieves, raiders, etc) or return with an object of import in order to make restitution for the wrong done.
Trial By Ordeal
Who was the "Prophet" Muhammad? Must have 3 facts.
x2 Points for all 5
A trader and a nomad
Member of the Quraysh tribe that controlled Mecca.
Reportedly was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and given a series of revelations.
Proclaimed ‘God is One’ and demanded complete submission (Islam) to Allah (God).
Born 570 AD, died 632 AD. Had his revelations transcribed into the Koran, the sacred text of Islam.
Describe the Holy Roman Empire
x2 points if you can name the three criticisms against it made by the Eastern Romans
The name of the new “Western Roman Empire”, composed entirely of Goths and Germanic tribes under the Carolingians. Inaugurated on Christmas Day, 800 AD with the Crowning of Charlemagne as the new “Emperor of Rome”
Criticized for not be Holy, Roman, or an Empire.
Convened by Empress Irene in 787 AD. Addressed the issue of Iconoclasm in the Eastern Churches and counter Islamic influence in the Church.Defined the difference between Veneration and Worship.
2nd Council of Nicaea (7th Ecumenical Council)
Name 3 of the 6 Pillars of Faith for Islam
x2 Points for all 6
Shahadah (Faith): To believe in no god but Allah, and his messenger, Muhammad
Salah (Prayer): 5 times a day
Sawm (Fasting): No food or drink during the day in Ramadan
Zakah (Almsgiving): Giving to the poor and needy
Hajj (Pilgrimage): Performing a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your life
Jihad (Holy War): Fighting against the enemies of Islam
Describe the Arab-Byzantine Wars
629-1050’s AD. A series of wars between the Eastern Romans and the Islamic Caliphates, mostly the Umayyad. Notable engagements being the conquest of Roman territory, and the sieges of Constantinople by the Umayyads in the 7th and 8th Centuries.
Describe the Abbasid Caliphate
750 - 1517 AD. Begun after the Abbasid Revolution (747-750 AD). Originating in Central Asia, the Abbasids drove the Umayyads out of the Middle East, where they continued their rule in Spain as the Emirate of Cordoba. Ruled during the Golden Age in the 8th and 9th Centuries, built Baghdad and Samaara as their Capitals until the Fragmentation of Islamic Unity in the Anarchy in the 9th and 10th Centuries. Endured until the Ottoman Conquest of Egypt in the 16th Century.
Define Weregild
Fines and ‘blood debt’ assigned to a guilty party as restitution to a wronged party. Usually reserved for murder, theft, or other Capital Crimes when guilt was established.
Originally a pilgrimage city (and neutral territory) for all Arabic faiths and tribes. A major stop on the Arabian trade routes. Contained the Kabaah, which once housed idols and icons of all the faiths practiced in the Arabian peninsula. Became the holy city of Islam after its conquest by Muhammad in 629 AD.
Mecca
What happened at the Council of Frankfurt?
Chuck rejects Irene and Icons, but also rejects Iconoclasm. “Pretty pictures and educational tools, NOT objects of veneration
Who was Empress Irene
The actual Empress of Rome in 800 AD. The Eastern Roman Empire was suffering under repeated attacks by Umayyad, Abbasid, and Seljuk Turkic attacks. Called the 7th Ecumenical Council to condemn Iconoclasm but did not invite any Frankish Bishops. A proposed marriage alliance to merge the Eastern Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire never materialized
What event saw the overthrow of the Rashudins and establishment of the Umayyads, fought 657-660 AD.
The First Fitna
717-718 AD. The Umayyad attack meant to destroy Eastern Rome and open Europe to invasion. Nearly 200,000 Muslim troops and 1,800 Arab ships attempted to take the city from 15,000 Romans and 12,000 Bulgarian Christian allies. The first recorded use of Greek Naptha (Napalm), which destroyed the Arab fleet. Emp. Leo III Isaurian defended the city with it, killing between 150,000 and 300,000 Umayyads.
The Siege of Constantinople
The Grand Library of Baghdad. Built 786 AD by Harun al-Rashid, 5th Abbasid Caliph. It became a public Library and Academy where Islamic scholars were housed for nearly 500 years. Destroyed by the Mongols under Hulegu in 1258 AD.
The House of Wisdom
What was Compurgation?
The bringing of eyewitnesses and character witnesses to vouch for a plaintiff or a defendant. Had a tiered level of credible witness. (Most to least credible)
-Royals
-Nobles
-Chevaliers (Knights)
-Freemen
-Serfs
The collection of the revelations of Muhammad. Written down as the Holy Book of Islam.
The Koran
Who was Charles The Great?
x2 points if you can give his Italian, German, French, and American name
Instituted multiple internal political reforms, social reforms, and conquests that laid the foundations for Western Europe. Ruled 768 to 814.
Italian: Carlo Magno
German: Karl der Grosse
French: Charlemagne
American: Chuck the Awesome
Who was Pope Leo III?
Pope of Rome who crowned Charlemagne on Christmas Day, 800 AD. Did it because he believed that women should not be the Roman Imperator Augustus, and disagreed with the coup led by Empress Irene against her Iconoclast son. Caused one of the opening rifts that would eventually become the Great Schism of 1054.
Describe the Rashidun Caliphate and their capital cities
x2 points if you can name the Caliphs
x3 if you can name how they died
632 AD - 651 AD. The first four Caliphs of Islam, all directly related to Muhammad. Capitals: Medina (first 3 Caliphs), and Kufa (under Ali ibn Abi Talib)
-Abu Bakr: 632-634 AD, died of natural causes
-Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb: 634-644 AD, assassinated
-Uthman ibn Affan: 644-656 AD, assassinated
-Ali ibn Abi Talib: 656-661 AD, assassinated
Describe the Caliphate of Cordoba
756-1051 AD. The refugee Umayyads fled the Abbasid and established themselves in the Iberian Peninsula. Capital: Cordoba. Attempted to stamp out Christianity in the Iberian and mount the invasion of Christian France.
Describe the Golden Age of Islam (must have at least 2 facts)
x2 points if you can get all 5
786-1258 AD.
Started with the establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad under the Abbasids. Art, science, mathematics, and literature flourished.
Many ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts were translated into Arabic and Persian.
Synthesized Indian and Chinese sciences due to their position on the Silk Road.
Paper is introduced and books are compiled.
Define Salic Law
x2 points for all 5 examples that survive today
Compiled by Clovis I, formed the basis for law and justice in the Frankish Kingdom, and influenced European/American law into the modern day.
Examples:
-Compurgation
-Trial By Ordeal
-Trial By Combat
-Weregild
-Inheritance Law