Five Pillars
This profession of faith is the first of the Five Pillars, declaring "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
What is the Shahada?
The name of this holy book, meaning "the recitation," refers to the revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad.
What is the Quran?
This empire, which frequently clashed with the neighboring Ottoman Empire, established Shi'a Islam as the official state religion of Persia (modern-day Iran).
What is Safavid Empire?
This 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire is best known for his 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca, which was so lavish and gold-laden that it famously devalued the price of gold in Cairo for a decade.
Who is Mansa Musa?
This leader's main accomplishment, before his vast conquests, was successfully bringing together the feuding nomadic Mongol tribes in 1206
Who is Ghenghis Khan?
This great pilgrimage is required of all physically and financially able Muslims to perform at least once in their lives.
What is Hajj?
This city in the Arabian Peninsula is Islam's holiest and the direction of prayer for Muslims worldwide.
What is Mecca?
This title, meaning "authority" or "ruler," was originally an Arabic abstract noun but came to be used as a political and military office, famously adopted by the rulers of the Ottoman empire
What is a Sultan?
As early as the 7th century, Muslim expansion into North Africa helped establish and dramatically expand this trade across the Sahara, a system that would last for centuries.
What is the Slave Trade?
Along with spices and luxury goods, the Tang Dynasty's secure control of this overland trade network led to a massive exchange of culture and religion
What is the Silk Road?
This Pillar refers to the ritual prayer performed five times a day
What is Salah?
Adherents of this denomination follow the traditions of the Prophet and believe that leadership of the Muslim Community should have passed through his companions by selection
What is Sunni?
The conquest of Constantinople by this empire is often cited as the key event that motivated Europeans to seek new, maritime routes to Asia.
What is the Ottoman Empire?
These specialized oral historians, storytellers, and musicians of West African culture are the keepers of generations of history and tradition.
What is a griot?
This painful practice, which became widespread among elite women during the Song Dynasty, was a physical manifestation of Neo-Confucian ideals about female virtue and confinement to the inner quarters.
What is footbinding?
Zakat is the annual giving of a this fixed percentage of one's wealth to charity, often called almsgiving.
What is 2.5%?
Adherents of this denomination believe that leadership of the Muslim community should have passed through the Prophet Muhammad's family, specifically his cousin and son-in-law, Ali.
What is Shia?
This system is not a single code, but a body of Islamic religious law based on the Quran and the Sunnah, meant to provide guidance on all aspects of a Muslim's life and conduct.
What is Sharia Law?
This West African trade route primarily exchanged gold and salt and served as the main channel for the spread of Islam south of the Sahara.
What is the Trans-Saharan Trade Route?
Considered a Golden Age of cosmopolitan culture in China, this dynasty invented the technique of woodblock printing and porcelain
What is Tang Dynasty?
Sawm is the fasting observed from dawn till sunset during this holy month
What is Ramadan?
This cube-shaped structure in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca is considered the most sacred site in Islam and the symbol of Hajj
What is Kaaba?
This "Great" Mughal emperor is renowned for his policies of religious tolerance, including abolishing the jizya (tax on non-Muslims)
Who is Akbar the Great?
This East African kingdom adopted Christianity in the 4th century and successfully resisted Muslim expansion for centuries, largely due to its mountainous geography and a historical pact of non-aggression.
What is Ethiopia?
A Samurai is a member of the powerful military aristocracy of medieval Japan. This code of conduct emphasized honor, courage, and loyalty to a feudal lord.
What is BushidÅ?