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
What is a Sunni Muslim?
Followers of Abu Bakr as Imam (Religious Leader). Hold that Muhammad appointed no successor, allowing Abu Bakr to become the First Caliph and Imam following the Prophet.
Describe the Rashidun Caliphate
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)
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
Describe the Abbasid Caliphate
750 - 1517 AD. Begun after the Abbasid Revolution (747-750 AD). Originating in Central Asia. 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.
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
What is a Shi'a Muslim?
Followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad’s son in law. Hold that Muhammad appointed Ali Caliph and Imam. Believe that the first 3 Rashidun Caliphs were usurpers, and not legitimate.
What was the 1st Fitna?
Overthrow of the Rashudins and establishment of the Umayyads, fought 657-660 AD.
What happened to the Umayyads when they were driven out by the Abbasids?
They continued their rule in Spain as the Emirate of Cordoba
When did the Abbasid Caliphate end?
The Ottoman Conquest of Egypt in the 16th Century.
An Iranian/Persian monotheistic faith emphasizing the struggle between good and evil. Worship Ahura Mazda (Sacred wise creator), founded by a Prophet Zoroaster. Non-Abrahamic, sacred texts are called ‘Avesta’.
Zoroastrians
The flight of Muhammad from Mecca in 622 AD. The Polytheists drove out the Muslims in an attempted purge, driving them from the city when they violated the neutrality of the city through their preaching
Hijrah
Who was Abu Bakr?
1st Caliph, completed the conquest of Arabia and compiled the Koran from Muhammads sayings. 632-634 AD. Only Rashidun Caliph to die of natural causes.
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 Revolution
747 - 750 AD. Originating in Central Asia (Khartom), spread into Persia and Iraq, destabilizing the Umayyads who fled west to Iberia.
What is the Koran?
The collection of the revelations of Muhammad. Written down as the Holy Book of Islam.
Describe the Fatimid Caliphate
909-1071 AD. Originating in North Africa, conquered Africa and Egypt from the Abbasids, spreading eastward, eventually using Cairo as their Capital. Successors of Ali, the 4th Rashidun Caliph, taking their name from Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter and wife of Ali. Isma’ili Sh’ia Muslims.
Who was Umar ibn al-Khattab?
2nd Caliph, conquered Roman territories. 634-644 AD, assassinated by a Zoroastrian Persian slave.
Describe the Ka'aba
“The Cube”. The stone building in the center of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. It is the qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims. During Hajj, pilgrims must circle the Kaaba 7 times to complete the pillar of faith.
Describe the House of Wisdom
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.
Who was The Prophet Muhammad? (4 points)
A trader and a nomad, originally a 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 Dome of the Rock
The Al’Aqsa Mosque built by the Umayyads in 691 AD. Built on top of the site of the Temple of Solomon, the Dome of the Rock houses the place where Muslims believe Muhammad was taken on a tour of Paradise during the Night Journey.
Who was Uthmān ibn ʿAffān?
644-654 AD. 3rd Caliph, destroyed all but one copy of the Koran, standardizing it for Islam. Expanded across North Africa and took the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. Assassinated by protesters against his lax religious character.
Describe Damascus
The Capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, which later became the capital of what Western Kingdoms called ‘The Saracens’. It was the base of power for the Umayyads and later, political successors during the Abbasid Anarchy.
Describe Baghdad
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.
Name the 6 Pillars of Islamic Faith
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 Siege of Constantinople
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.
Name the 4 Rashidun Caliphs and what happened to them
-Abu Bakr: died of natural causes
-Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb: assassinated
-Uthman ibn Affan: assassinated
-Ali ibn Abi Talib: assassinated
Describe the Emirate/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 Islamic Golden Age
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.